Basis of Presentation (Policy)	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policy)	Mar. 29, 2025
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Our condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Henry Schein, Inc., and all of our controlled subsidiaries and VIE (“we”, “us” and “our”). All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates for which we have the ability to influence the operating or financial decisions are accounted for under the equity method. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications, individually and in the aggregate, did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Basis of Accounting	Our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for the three months ended March 29, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 27, 2025. Our condensed consolidated financial statements reflect estimates and assumptions made by us that affect, among other things, our goodwill, long-lived asset and definite-lived intangible asset valuation; inventory valuation; equity investment valuation; assessment of the annual effective tax rate; valuation of deferred income taxes and income tax contingencies; the allowance for credit losses; hedging activity; supplier rebates; measurement of compensation cost for certain share-based performance awards and cash bonus plans; and pension plan assumptions.
Consolidated Variable Interest Entity	The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of the VIE. We are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE when we have the power to direct activities that most significantly affect its economic performance and have the obligation to absorb the majority of its losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary, we consider factors such as ownership interest, debt investments, management representation, authority to control decisions, and contractual and substantive participating rights of each party. For this VIE, related to our U.S. trade accounts receivable securitization as discussed in the trade accounts receivable transferred to the VIE are pledged as collateral to the related debt. The VIE’s creditors have recourse to us for losses on these trade accounts receivable. At March 29, 2025 and December 28, 2024, certain trade accounts receivable that can only be used to settle obligations of this VIE were $ 471 million and $ 241 million, respectively, and the liabilities of this VIE where the creditors have recourse to us were $ 300 million and $ 150 million, respectively.