Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues	$ 496,448	$ 469,528	$ 470,811	$ 446,746	$ 510,521	$ 482,352	$ 482,314	$ 472,429	$ 917,557	$ 954,743	$ 1,387,085	$ 1,437,095	$ 1,883,533	$ 1,947,616	$ 1,938,025
Cost of revenues		322,238	352,257	308,324		337,053	321,627	319,606	660,581	641,233	982,819	978,286	1,326,848	1,333,566	1,323,257
Gross profit	152,419	147,290	118,554	138,422	155,241	145,299	160,687	152,823	256,976	313,510	404,266	458,809	556,685	614,050	614,768
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing		39,217	43,058	41,027		44,559	45,371	45,609	84,085	90,980	123,302	135,539	161,380	182,503	182,687
Product development		41,559	43,318	41,522		42,357	43,958	44,434	84,840	88,392	126,399	130,749	162,334	175,500	175,420
General and administrative		31,118	32,492	39,585		36,603	38,029	39,864	72,077	77,893	103,195	114,496	155,715	162,466	143,932
Amortization of Intangible Assets		7,869	7,888	7,973		10,917	11,109	11,070	15,861	22,179	23,730	33,096	31,673	43,619	42,019
Restructuring		587	(4,234)	(5,181)		57	(8,657)	6,383	(9,415)	(2,274)	(8,828)	(2,217)	(7,263)	49,482	36,347
Goodwill impairment		0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	174,226
Total operating expenses		120,350	122,522	124,926		134,493	129,810	147,360	247,448	277,170	367,798	411,663	503,839	613,570	754,631
Operating income (loss)		26,940	(3,968)	13,496		10,806	30,877	5,463	9,528	36,340	36,468	47,146	52,846	480	(139,863)
Other income (expense)
Interest income		180	212	48		163	53	97	260	150	440	313	761	494	1,152
Interest expense		(2,799)	(3,855)	(2,682)		(3,015)	(2,912)	(2,910)	(6,537)	(5,822)	(9,336)	(8,837)	(12,289)	(11,602)	(10,686)
Other income (expense), net		(1,119)	(1,905)	21		(1,567)	(1,374)	(2,503)	(1,884)	(3,877)	(3,003)	(5,444)	(4,216)	(7,637)	(4,003)
Total other income (expense)		(3,738)	(5,548)	(2,613)		(4,419)	(4,233)	(5,316)	(8,161)	(9,549)	(11,899)	(13,968)	(15,744)	(18,745)	(13,537)
Income (loss) before income taxes		23,202	(9,516)	10,883		6,387	26,644	147	1,367	26,791	24,569	33,178	37,102	(18,265)	(153,400)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(9,932)	(4,098)	(5,030)		(2,557)	(5,223)	(1,061)	(9,128)	(6,284)	(19,060)	(8,841)	(22,099)	(4,035)	2,466
Net income (loss)		13,270	(13,614)	5,853		3,830	21,421	(914)	(7,761)	20,507	5,509	24,337	15,003	(22,300)	(150,934)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		630	732	455		245	585	136	1,187	721	1,817	966	2,325	1,370	2,219
Net income (loss) attributable to Itron, Inc.	$ 8,986	$ 12,640	$ (14,346)	$ 5,398	$ (47,041)	$ 3,585	$ 20,836	$ (1,050)	$ (8,948)	$ 19,786	$ 3,692	$ 23,371	$ 12,678	$ (23,670)	$ (153,153)
Earnings (loss) per common share - Basic	$ 0.23	$ 0.33	$ (0.37)	$ 0.14	$ (1.21)	$ 0.09	$ 0.53	$ (0.03)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.50	$ 0.10	$ 0.60	$ 0.33	$ (0.60)	$ (3.90)
Earnings (loss) per common share - Diluted	$ 0.23	$ 0.33	$ (0.37)	$ 0.14	$ (1.21)	$ 0.09	$ 0.53	$ (0.03)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.50	$ 0.10	$ 0.59	$ 0.33	$ (0.60)	$ (3.90)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic		38,114	38,434	38,442		39,213	39,356	39,235	38,438	39,296	38,329	39,268	38,224	39,184	39,281
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted		38,358	38,434	38,758		39,493	39,544	39,235	38,438	39,528	38,591	39,516	38,506	39,184	39,281