Income Per Share - Basis for Income Per Share Computations (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 267,748	$ 198,841	$ 70,718
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	159	392	104
Income from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders	267,589	198,449	70,614
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(3,685)	(136,384)	(115,828)
Gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax	(9,241)	1,860	(9,948)
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden common stockholders	$ 254,663	$ 63,925	$ (55,162)
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	43,845	44,802	44,778
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	692	559	159
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	44,537	45,361	44,937