Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2017
Net income/(loss)	$ (29,138)	$ 10,328	$ 68,937	$ 17,726
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(76,837)	49,112	(59,542)	64,791
Pension adjustments	666	760	1,333	1,519
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(75,724)	49,003	(59,345)	64,339
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(104,862)	59,331	9,592	82,065
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,232	(1,418)	2,519	(171)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(106,094)	60,749	7,073	82,236
Parent [Member]
Net income/(loss)	(29,138)	10,328	68,937	17,726
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	1,116	0	1,116	0
Pension adjustments	565	641	1,131	1,282
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	2,128	(228)	1,111	(689)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(27,010)	10,100	70,048	17,037
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(27,010)	10,100	70,048	17,037
Guarantors [Member]
Net income/(loss)	35,348	16,360	70,625	41,911
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(53,387)	0	(53,387)	0
Pension adjustments	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(53,387)	0	(53,387)	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(18,039)	16,360	17,238	41,911
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(18,039)	16,360	17,238	41,911
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income/(loss)	(1,189)	10,153	108,414	22,920
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(24,566)	49,112	(7,271)	64,791
Pension adjustments	101	119	202	237
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(24,465)	49,231	(7,069)	65,028
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(25,654)	59,384	101,345	87,948
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,232	(1,418)	2,519	(171)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(26,886)	60,802	98,826	88,119
Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0	22	0
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		22
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0
Corn Option [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	447	(869)	(1,158)	(1,971)
Corn Option [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	447	(869)	(1,158)	(1,971)
Corn Option [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0	0	0
Corn Option [Member] \| Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
Net income/(loss)	(34,159)	(26,513)	(179,039)	(64,831)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0
Pension adjustments	0	0	0	0
Derivative adjustments	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(34,159)	(26,513)	(179,039)	(64,831)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(34,159)	$ (26,513)	(179,039)	$ (64,831)
Eliminations [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	$ 0		$ 0

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e557-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4K
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4591552-111686

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4613674-111683

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569643-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4K
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4591552-111686

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b,c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109240241&loc=d3e32211-110900

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after tax and reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for defined benefit plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (i-k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4J
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4591551-111686

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3000-108585

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4K
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4591552-111686

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=dar_NaturalGasSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=dar_CornOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=srt_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: