CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income including noncontrolling interest	$ 1,861,787	$ 1,644,817	$ 1,482,819
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains during period, pre-tax amount	22,659	(10,340)	(1,500)
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains during period, tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains during period, after-tax amount	22,659	(10,340)	(1,500)
Reclassification to earnings due to sale of businesses, pre-tax amount	0	0	5,249
Reclassification to earnings due to sale of businesses, pre-tax amount, tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0
Reclassification to earnings due to sale of businesses, after-tax amount	0	0	5,249
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, pre-tax amount	(39,454)	(32,970)	67,728
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, tax (expense) benefit	9,191	7,481	(13,929)
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, after-tax amount	(30,263)	(25,489)	53,799
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	28,612	31,009	32,092
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(6,895)	(7,392)	(8,067)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	21,717	23,617	24,025
Cash flow hedges:
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, before tax	954	2,056	(1,551)
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, tax	(30)	(74)	(2,989)
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, after tax	924	1,982	(4,540)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	10,866	10,200	18,117
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(3,648)	(3,088)	(1,034)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	7,218	7,112	17,083
Total other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax amount	23,637	(45)	120,135
Total other comprehensive income (loss), tax (expense) benefit	(1,382)	(3,073)	(26,019)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), after-tax amount	22,255	(3,118)	94,116
Total comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest	1,884,042	1,641,699	1,576,935
Comprehensive (gain) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	10,556
Comprehensive income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 1,884,042	$ 1,641,699	$ 1,566,379