Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of days in quarter	93 days	91 days	91 days	90 days	92 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	365 days	365 days
Revenues	$ 549,688	$ 533,098	$ 548,352	$ 500,140	$ 552,052	$ 554,037	$ 560,898	$ 498,715	$ 2,131,278	$ 2,165,702	$ 2,087,185
Gross profit	202,772	198,805	205,072	186,856	216,994	214,501	212,057	186,359	793,505	829,911	802,320
Operating income	43,400	57,542	58,775	47,490	71,264	129,160	68,706	44,878	207,207	314,008	233,641
Income from continuing operations	2,530	38,031	41,395	27,935	35,965	87,046	40,278	3,855	109,891	167,144	102,607
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(149,759)	(335,046)	895	(2,757)	7,526	(1,188)	(11,486)	(1,285)	(486,667)	(6,433)	(9,754)
Net income (loss)	(147,229)	(297,015)	42,290	25,178	43,491	85,858	28,792	2,570	(376,776)	160,711	92,853
Less: Net incomce (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	179	(6)	90	(24)	(35)	(23)	(77)	(48)	239	(183)	(357)
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden	(147,408)	(297,009)	42,200	25,202	43,526	85,881	28,869	2,618	(377,015)	160,894	93,210
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	971	8,733	8,733	8,733	8,732	8,733	8,733	18,437	34,931	34,931
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ (147,408)	$ (297,980)	$ 33,467	$ 16,469	$ 34,793	$ 77,149	$ 20,136	$ (6,115)	$ (395,452)	$ 125,963	$ 58,279
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Belden common stockholders:	$ (3.24)	$ (6.70)	$ 0.84	$ 0.42	$ 0.87	$ 1.90	$ 0.49	$ (0.15)	$ (9.37)	$ 3.10	$ 1.38
Continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.05	0.83	0.82	0.48	0.68	1.64	0.77	(0.12)	2.16	3.25	1.61
Discontinued operations attributable to Belden common stockholders (in dollars per share)	(3.29)	(7.54)	0.02	(0.07)	0.19	(0.03)	(0.28)	(0.03)	(11.53)	(0.16)	(0.23)
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Belden stockholders:	(3.24)	(6.70)	0.84	0.42	0.87	1.62	0.49	(0.15)	(9.37)	3.08	1.37
Continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.05	0.83	0.82	0.48	0.68	1.64	0.77	(0.12)	2.15	3.23	1.60
Discontinued operations attributable to Belden common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (3.29)	$ (7.54)	$ 0.02	$ (0.07)	$ 0.19	$ (0.03)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.03)	$ (11.53)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.23)