Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net income/(loss)	$ (5,137)	$ 8,684	$ 63,800	$ 26,410
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(5,584)	46,211	(65,126)	111,002
Pension adjustments	668	759	2,001	2,278
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(4,644)	47,842	(63,989)	112,181
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(9,781)	56,526	(189)	138,591
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(538)	109	1,981	(62)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(9,243)	56,417	(2,170)	138,653
Parent [Member]
Net income/(loss)	(5,137)	8,684	63,800	26,410
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	165	0	1,281	0
Pension adjustments	565	641	1,696	1,923
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	693	1,513	1,804	824
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(4,444)	10,197	65,604	27,234
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(4,444)	10,197	65,604	27,234
Guarantors [Member]
Net income/(loss)	20,575	15,363	91,200	57,274
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0	(53,387)	0
Pension adjustments	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0	0	(53,387)	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	20,575	15,363	37,813	57,274
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	20,575	15,363	37,813	57,274
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income/(loss)	7,863	12,447	116,277	35,367
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(5,749)	46,211	(13,020)	111,002
Pension adjustments	103	118	305	355
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(5,337)	46,329	(12,406)	111,357
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	2,526	58,776	103,871	146,724
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(538)	109	1,981	(62)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	3,064	58,667	101,890	146,786
Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	22	22	22
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	22	22	22
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0	0	0
Natural Gas Swap [Member] \| Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0	0	0
Soybean Meal [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	3	0	3	0
Soybean Meal [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	3		3
Soybean Meal [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0
Soybean Meal [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	(40)	850	(1,198)	(1,121)
Corn Option [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	(40)	850	(1,198)	(1,121)
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
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	309	0	309	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0		0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	309		309
Eliminations [Member]
Net income/(loss)	(28,438)	(27,810)	(207,477)	(92,641)
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)	(28,438)	(27,810)	(207,477)	(92,641)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(28,438)	(27,810)	(207,477)	(92,641)
Eliminations [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Eliminations [Member] \| Soybean Meal [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.

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