Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016
Numerator:
Net income	$ 945	$ 36,072	$ 62,417	$ 94,363
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(82)	(88)	(274)	(286)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,732	6,695	26,198	6,695
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ (7,705)	$ 29,465	$ 36,493	$ 87,954
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	42,256	42,126	42,251	42,073
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	0	522	412	461
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	42,256	42,648	42,663	42,534