<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="hsy-20220203.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000047111</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-02-03</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-02-03</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM180L2ZyYWc6ZjE5YTQ0OTc4ZjI5NDdmMTkzNzJlMzA5MzFkNjcyMTUvdGFibGU6MjJmZDljMTMyMDI4NDQxY2IzMDc2N2I5ZTViMWI3ZDkvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyMmZkOWMxMzIwMjg0NDFjYjMwNzY3YjllNWIxYjdkOV8yLTEtMS0xLTMxMDY4_7156b0ef-f188-485f-8509-eebd5db128a4">0000047111</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM180L2ZyYWc6ZjE5YTQ0OTc4ZjI5NDdmMTkzNzJlMzA5MzFkNjcyMTUvdGFibGU6MjJmZDljMTMyMDI4NDQxY2IzMDc2N2I5ZTViMWI3ZDkvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyMmZkOWMxMzIwMjg0NDFjYjMwNzY3YjllNWIxYjdkOV8zLTEtMS0xLTMxMDY4_ea68addd-df4b-4e18-84c8-331b252d6d55">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl84Ng_0d535910-da0e-4be5-9b6b-d00cf0f60b72">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8yMTk5MDIzMjU3NjIy_f2d00365-0749-4e4b-a172-dc512357dc54">2022-02-03</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8yMzU_300e39f9-7926-43f0-85f9-17e49faf4e9e">HERSHEY CO</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6MTMwOWVhNGExNDExNDQ5OGI3Y2M4NWQxNGEzNTMwOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxMzA5ZWE0YTE0MTE0NDk4YjdjYzg1ZDE0YTM1MzA5M18wLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_98d8ef51-4b32-45ed-85ae-eb545c8df1c0">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6MTMwOWVhNGExNDExNDQ5OGI3Y2M4NWQxNGEzNTMwOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxMzA5ZWE0YTE0MTE0NDk4YjdjYzg1ZDE0YTM1MzA5M18wLTItMS0xLTMxMDY4_a2742be2-8c45-4f63-89be-8cd75388d294">1-183</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6MTMwOWVhNGExNDExNDQ5OGI3Y2M4NWQxNGEzNTMwOTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxMzA5ZWE0YTE0MTE0NDk4YjdjYzg1ZDE0YTM1MzA5M18wLTQtMS0xLTMxMDY4_46c2a007-90f1-4925-a91e-f5c25581a5be">23-0691590</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zMDM_3edac77e-c20c-4f5d-b758-fd8a1dd53270">19 East Chocolate Avenue</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zMDc_ad2b0021-872f-4e02-a6fe-e6545c93ce2f">Hershey</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zMTE_f549fc11-5ed6-4bcd-81e5-740372f00671">PA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zMTQ_54745312-60e2-4009-bf43-a59384e2eb9b">17033</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zNzM_b2f426db-de5a-4feb-ab37-61ffa4d61221">717</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1OWYyNzBmN2E4YmY0MGFhYjcxN2MwNDlkZmI2ZWUxYl8zNzc_9a66dcf0-abf2-4eb1-9506-3d57fbb384f9">534-4200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6NWQzNmNkZDkyYWUwNGQ3NmI3NTE3ODg5ZjYzZDE2YjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDM2Y2RkOTJhZTA0ZDc2Yjc1MTc4ODlmNjNkMTZiNl8wLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_b300d06b-234d-47d3-945c-dcbb5d9fa7c9">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6NWQzNmNkZDkyYWUwNGQ3NmI3NTE3ODg5ZjYzZDE2YjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDM2Y2RkOTJhZTA0ZDc2Yjc1MTc4ODlmNjNkMTZiNl8xLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_bcb4053d-97d0-4355-acb2-e53e759d7bcd">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6NWQzNmNkZDkyYWUwNGQ3NmI3NTE3ODg5ZjYzZDE2YjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDM2Y2RkOTJhZTA0ZDc2Yjc1MTc4ODlmNjNkMTZiNl8yLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_f120f6c1-ca03-4804-b05b-6099c3ba5e39">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6NWQzNmNkZDkyYWUwNGQ3NmI3NTE3ODg5ZjYzZDE2YjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDM2Y2RkOTJhZTA0ZDc2Yjc1MTc4ODlmNjNkMTZiNl8zLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_138d24e6-fdd1-4898-8516-42695edbeb95">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6ODljMzMxMWE4ODZmNDc5ZDgxMmZhMWQ0YmNlM2RiODIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4OWMzMzExYTg4NmY0NzlkODEyZmExZDRiY2UzZGI4Ml8xLTAtMS0xLTMxMDY4_ca3046fb-374e-48e6-9abc-92d2995c5208">Common Stock, one dollar par value</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6ODljMzMxMWE4ODZmNDc5ZDgxMmZhMWQ0YmNlM2RiODIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4OWMzMzExYTg4NmY0NzlkODEyZmExZDRiY2UzZGI4Ml8xLTItMS0xLTMxMDY4_2ca6090a-f7c6-42c0-9ce7-b90541ac9730">HSY</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6ODljMzMxMWE4ODZmNDc5ZDgxMmZhMWQ0YmNlM2RiODIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4OWMzMzExYTg4NmY0NzlkODEyZmExZDRiY2UzZGI4Ml8xLTQtMS0xLTMxMDY4_5e3565ec-0829-4ff0-ba4e-979e319919b8">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i0e00f031189e4ec8a3509370c781774c_D20220203-20220203"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjMzNDZhZDgzMDViMTQ2YmJhNzZiZWMyMjBiYmJiOGUzL3NlYzozMzQ2YWQ4MzA1YjE0NmJiYTc2YmVjMjIwYmJiYjhlM18xL2ZyYWc6NTlmMjcwZjdhOGJmNDBhYWI3MTdjMDQ5ZGZiNmVlMWIvdGFibGU6MDg2ZGUyMTY4ZTJhNGJjZmE2NjI4OWRmZGNkYzQxNDkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowODZkZTIxNjhlMmE0YmNmYTY2Mjg5ZGZkY2RjNDE0OV8wLTItMS0xLTMxMDY4_73274a48-a514-466f-b4b3-bd60008baa1f">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
