Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 541,497	$ 546,957
Cost of sales	(316,462)	(339,308)
Gross profit	225,035	207,649
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(122,406)	(140,048)
Research and development	(36,133)	(36,199)
Amortization of intangibles	(25,532)	(26,504)
Operating income	40,964	4,898
Interest expense, net	(24,396)	(23,846)
Income (loss) before taxes	16,568	(18,948)
Income tax expense	(143)	(688)
Net income (loss)	16,425	(19,636)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(99)
Net income (loss) attributable to Belden stockholders	$ 16,524	$ (19,636)
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents:
Basic	42,008	42,535
Diluted	42,440	42,535
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Belden stockholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.46)
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Belden stockholders	$ 0.39	$ (0.46)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Belden stockholders	$ 14,806	$ (5,723)
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05