Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Numerator:
Net income	$ 43,491	$ 85,858	$ 28,792	$ 2,570	$ 30,436	$ 945	$ 35,891	$ 25,581	$ 160,711	$ 92,853	$ 127,646
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(35)	(23)	(77)	(48)	(83)	(82)	(86)	(106)	(183)	(357)	(357)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	34,931	34,931	15,428
Net income attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 34,793	$ 77,149	$ 20,136	$ (6,115)	$ 21,786	$ (7,705)	$ 27,244	$ 16,954	$ 125,963	$ 58,279	$ 112,575
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)									40,675	42,220	42,093
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)									281	423	464
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)									40,956	42,643	42,557