Acquisitions (Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Aug. 01, 2022	Mar. 30, 2024	Apr. 01, 2023	Dec. 30, 2023
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 2,498,457		$ 2,484,502
Less contingent consideration			58,652		$ 86,495
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired			109,938	$ 1,079,083
Net sales			1,420,299	1,791,172
Net income attributable to Darling			81,157	185,801
Acquisition and integration costs			4,054	$ 7,022
FASA Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Accounts Receivable		$ 76,640
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory		43,058
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Other		33,327
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment		224,384
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		119,477
Goodwill		301,937
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Operating Lease Right-of-Use-Asset		583
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		62,388
Deferred tax asset		2,315
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable		(15,920)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-Term Debt		(18,680)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Accrued Liabilities, Current		(38,708)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-Term Debt		(41,926)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Operating Lease Liability, Noncurrent		(583)
Deferred tax liability		(95,653)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(503)
Non-controlling interests		(21,704)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net, Total		630,432
Less hold-back		21,705
Less contingent consideration		82,984
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired		$ 525,743
Gelnex
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Accounts Receivable	$ 81,025
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory	140,865
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Other	3,143
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment	169,205
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	339,500
Goodwill	542,572
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Operating Lease Right-of-Use-Asset	134
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets	2,703
Deferred tax asset	9,067
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable	(15,059)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Long-Term Debt	(44,692)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Operating Lease Liability, Current	(26)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Accrued Liabilities, Current	(18,826)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-Term Debt	(1,407)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Operating Lease Liability, Noncurrent	(123)
Deferred tax liability	(12,870)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(19)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net, Total	1,195,192
Less hold-back	104,145
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired	$ 1,091,047
Net sales			65,900
Net income attributable to Darling			$ (36,100)