Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] USD ($)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,439,208	$ 1,428,295		$ 1,328,249	$ (34,974)	$ 135,020	$ 10,913
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			40,431,000
Net income (loss)	(506,196)	(510,157)				(510,157)	3,961
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,440)	(2,186)			(2,186)		(254)
Options exercised (shares)			42,000
Options exercised (value)	832	832		832
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			271,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			12,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	469	469		469
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			99,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,793	3,793		3,793
Stock-based compensation expense	15,942	15,942		15,942
Employee stock plans income tax deficiencies	(635)	(635)		(635)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(823,000)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	(29,428)	(29,428)		(29,428)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2011	921,545	906,925		1,319,222	(37,160)	(375,137)	14,620
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			40,032,000
Net income (loss)	110,224	108,275				108,275	1,949
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,753	2,776			2,776		(23)
Options exercised (shares)			54,000
Options exercised (value)	1,188	1,188		1,188
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			275,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			17,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	769	769		769
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			101,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,593	3,593		3,593
Stock-based compensation expense	18,743	18,743		18,743
Employee stock plans income tax deficiencies	(1,861)	(1,861)		(1,861)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(1,202,000)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	(47,441)	(47,441)		(47,441)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2012	16,546
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2012	1,009,513	992,967		1,294,213	(34,384)	(266,862)	16,546
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2012	992,967
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	39,277,000		39,277,000
Net income (loss)	(144,590)	(146,809)				(146,809)	2,219
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12,627	12,662			12,662		(35)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(995)						(995)
Options exercised (shares)			74,000
Options exercised (value)	1,771	1,771		1,771
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			331,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			18,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	811	811		811
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			94,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,528	3,528		3,528
Stock-based compensation expense	18,039	18,039		18,039
Employee stock plans income tax deficiencies	(756)	(756)		(756)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(645,000)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	(26,977)	(26,977)		(26,977)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	17,735
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	872,971	855,236		1,290,629	(21,722)	(413,671)	17,735
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 855,236
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	39,149,000		39,149,000