Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 131,018	$ 109,458	$ 128,814	$ 118,084	$ 112,371	$ 122,475	$ 114,780	$ 146,327	$ 124,805	$ 136,411
Accounts receivable, net	330,895	340,423	338,196	324,706	346,547	342,480	369,092	341,547
Inventories	190,465	214,237	195,394	168,161	154,221	190,689	192,670	190,105
Deferred tax assets current, net	0	42,921	44,717	44,242	45,504	41,690	42,274	41,766
Other current assets	106,562	121,801	128,298	128,079	123,819	123,535	125,929	116,663
Total current assets	758,940	828,840	835,419	783,272	782,462	820,869	844,745	836,408
Property, plant, and equipment, net	190,256	190,699	194,756	192,064	207,152	221,141	233,571	236,045
Deferred tax assets noncurrent, net	109,387	59,897	73,511	76,308	74,439	67,202	64,127	59,096
Other long-term assets	52,726	48,244	50,387	47,363	46,965	51,187	47,994	47,843
Intangible assets, net	101,932	111,767	117,136	122,431	139,909	155,432	172,927	184,052
Goodwill	468,122	475,410	471,648	462,718	500,820	515,641	541,539	546,437	547,604
Total assets	1,681,363	1,714,857	1,742,857	1,684,156	1,751,747	1,831,472	1,904,903	1,909,881
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	185,827	201,447	226,511	196,119	183,831	203,171	209,080	210,676
Other current liabilities	78,630	68,837	60,763	78,819	101,315	62,039	69,064	77,042
Wages and benefits payable	76,980	92,892	84,944	79,443	94,818	91,871	92,814	89,643
Taxes payable	14,859	13,210	16,435	18,740	21,951	18,761	14,456	15,104
Current portion of debt	11,250	11,250	11,250	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,000	28,125
Current portion of warranty	36,927	40,060	35,589	22,256	21,145	22,283	23,689	21,989
Unearned revenue	73,301	67,613	74,524	77,693	67,009	71,364	68,044	63,539
Total current liabilities	477,774	495,309	510,016	503,070	520,069	499,489	507,147	506,118
Long-term debt	359,962	369,457	361,708	331,310	293,969	280,000	297,500	320,000
Long-term warranty	17,585	14,684	22,550	14,809	15,403	18,071	18,860	24,035
Pension plan benefit liability	85,971	94,100	93,918	91,652	101,862	82,529	87,988	89,498
Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent, net	1,723	3,569	3,247	3,289	3,808	7,220	6,297	6,123
Other long-term obligations	115,645	116,415	121,084	107,809	118,094	125,049	118,450	110,168
Total liabilities	$ 1,058,660	1,093,534	1,112,523	1,051,939	$ 1,053,205	1,012,358	1,036,242	1,055,942
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Equity
Preferred stock, no par value, 10 million shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding	$ 0	0	0	0	$ 0	0	0	0
Common stock, no par value, 75 million shares authorized, 37,906 and 38,591 shares issued and outstanding	1,246,671	1,246,177	1,255,154	1,257,796	1,270,045	1,288,562	1,293,548	1,291,690
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(200,607)	(193,920)	(180,616)	(194,989)	(135,060)	(80,636)	(32,245)	(24,258)
Accumulated deficit	(441,306)	(450,292)	(462,932)	(448,586)	(453,984)	(406,943)	(410,528)	(431,364)
Total Itron, Inc. shareholders' equity	604,758	601,965	611,606	614,221	681,001	800,983	850,775	836,068
Noncontrolling interests	17,945	19,358	18,728	17,996	17,541	18,131	17,886	17,871
Total equity	622,703	621,323	630,334	632,217	698,542	819,114	868,661	853,939	$ 856,746	$ 998,805
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,681,363	$ 1,714,857	$ 1,742,857	$ 1,684,156	$ 1,751,747	$ 1,831,472	$ 1,904,903	$ 1,909,881