Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Sep. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 28, 2019	Sep. 29, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 842,049			$ 812,576			$ 2,504,477	$ 2,534,596
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	652,923			647,929			1,948,552	1,978,729
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets	(2,669)			172			(20,845)	472
Selling, general and administrative expenses	83,549			67,447			249,569	232,907
Restructuring and impairment charges	0			0			0	14,965
Depreciation and amortization	80,407			78,842			239,057	235,915
Total costs and expenses	814,210			794,390			2,416,333	2,462,988
Equity in net income/(loss) of Diamond Green Diesel	32,020			(2,630)			94,390	109,655
Operating income	59,859			15,556			182,534	181,263
Other expense:
Interest expense	(19,359)			(20,080)			(60,088)	(66,220)
Debt extinguishment costs	0			0			(12,126)	(23,509)
Foreign currency gain/(loss)	466			(2,106)			(654)	(7,082)
Gain/(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries	0			3,038			0	(12,500)
Other expense, net	(2,614)			(2,786)			(7,158)	(4,103)
Total other expense	(21,507)			(21,934)			(80,026)	(113,414)
Equity in net loss of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	(665)			(162)			(1,087)	(57)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	37,687			(6,540)			101,421	67,792
Income tax expense/(benefit)	10,850			(1,403)			23,900	3,992
Net income/(loss)	26,837	$ 31,044	$ 19,640	(5,137)	$ (29,138)	$ 98,075	77,521	63,800
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,116)			(900)			(7,530)	(2,952)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	$ 25,721			$ (6,037)			$ 69,991	$ 60,848
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16			$ (0.04)			$ 0.42	$ 0.37
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15			$ (0.04)			$ 0.42	$ 0.37

Equity In Income (Loss) from Subsidiary, before Tax

No definition available.

Name:	dar_EquityInIncomeLossfromSubsidiarybeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	dar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.