Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2017	Apr. 03, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 551,381	$ 541,497
Cost of sales	(329,267)	(316,462)
Gross Profit	222,114	225,035
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(112,586)	(122,406)
Research and development	(34,522)	(36,133)
Amortization expense	(23,669)	(25,532)
Operating income	51,337	40,964
Interest expense, net	(23,506)	(24,396)
Income before taxes	27,831	16,568
Income tax expense	(2,250)	(210)
Net income	25,581	16,358
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(106)	(99)
Net income attributable to Belden	25,687	16,457
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,733	0
Net income attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 16,954	$ 16,457
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents:
Basic (in shares)	42,216	42,008
Diluted (in shares)	42,675	42,387
Net income, Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.39
Net income, Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.39
Comprehensive income attributable to Belden	$ 16,276	$ 14,739
Dividends declared per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05