Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 62,457	$ 54,403	$ 109,891
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	392	104	239
Less: Preferred stock dividends	0	0	18,437
Income from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders	62,065	54,299	91,215
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(99,513)	(486,667)
Gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax	1,860	(9,948)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 63,925	$ (55,162)	$ (395,452)
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	44,802	44,778	42,203
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	559	159	213
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	45,361	44,937	42,416