Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 24, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	DOLE FOOD CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018169
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 24, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		88,946,386