Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Apr. 03, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations									$ 92,853	$ 127,646	$ 66,508
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ (83)	$ (82)	$ (86)	$ (106)	$ (71)	$ (88)	$ (99)	$ (99)	(357)	(357)	(24)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	8,733	6,695	0	0	34,931	15,428	0
Income from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders									58,279	112,575	66,532
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to Belden common stockholders									0	0	(242)
Loss from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to Belden common stockholders									0	0	(86)
Net income attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 21,786	$ (7,705)	$ 27,244	$ 16,954	$ 24,621	$ 29,465	$ 42,032	$ 16,457	$ 58,279	$ 112,575	$ 66,204
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)									42,220	42,093	42,390
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)									423	464	563
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)									42,643	42,557	42,953