Comprehensive Income - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and Comprehensive Income Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2017	Jun. 25, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jun. 25, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Attributable to Redeemable noncontrolling interests:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ (8,424)		$ (8,424)		$ (13,025)
Attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	71		71		(113)
Attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(186,747)		(186,747)		(296,212)
Unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency hedging activities	(1,293)		(1,293)		(53)
Pension adjustment gain (loss)	(21,486)		(21,486)		(20,776)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(209,526)		(209,526)		(317,041)
Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(217,879)		(217,879)		$ (330,179)
Components of comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net income	149,582	$ 133,098	299,835	$ 257,631
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	72,798	(5,568)	114,250	4,422
Tax effect	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	72,798	(5,568)	114,250	4,422
Unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency hedging activities	1,774	(49)	(1,304)	2,119
Tax effect	(153)	61	64	(490)
Unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency hedging activities	1,621	12	(1,240)	1,629
Pension adjustment gain (loss)	(1,097)	199	(1,042)	(293)
Tax effect	303	(5)	332	94
Pension adjustment gain (loss)	(794)	194	(710)	(199)
Comprehensive income	$ 223,207	$ 127,736	$ 412,135	$ 263,483

Accumulated adjustment attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains (losses).

No definition available.