Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance (shares) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2012			39,277
Balance (shares) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])			0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			39,277
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,009,513	$ 992,967		$ 1,294,213	$ (34,384)	$ (266,862)	$ 16,546
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(10,708)	(10,708)		0	(409)	(10,299)	0
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2012	998,805	982,259		1,294,213	(34,793)	(277,161)	16,546
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(144,590)
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(6,344)
Net income (loss)	(150,934)	(153,153)				(153,153)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	2,219
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,219						2,219
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	12,627
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	827
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,454	13,489			13,489		(35)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(995)						(995)
Options exercised (shares)			74
Options exercised (value)	1,771	1,771		1,771
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			331
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			18
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	811	811		811
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			94
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)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	(26,977)	(26,977)		(26,977)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			39,149
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	856,746	839,011		1,290,629	(21,304)	(430,314)	17,735
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(118)
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(796)
Net income (loss)	(914)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	136
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	136
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(3,114)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	160
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,954)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Mar. 31, 2014	870,800
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(16,861)
Balance (value) at Mar. 31, 2014	853,939
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			39,149
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	856,746	839,011		1,290,629	(21,304)	(430,314)	17,735
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	19,726
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	781
Net income (loss)	20,507
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	721
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	721
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(11,110)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	169
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,941)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2014	883,936
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,275)
Balance (value) at Jun. 30, 2014	868,661
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			39,149
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	856,746	839,011		1,290,629	(21,304)	(430,314)	17,735
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	27,279
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(2,942)
Net income (loss)	24,337
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	966
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	966
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(60,003)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	671
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(59,332)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2014	837,007
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(17,893)
Balance (value) at Sep. 30, 2014	819,114
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			39,149
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	856,746	839,011		1,290,629	(21,304)	(430,314)	17,735
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(21,550)
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(750)
Net income (loss)	(22,300)	(23,670)				(23,670)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	1,370
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,370						1,370
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(114,792)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	1,036
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(113,756)	(113,756)			(113,756)		0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1,564)						(1,564)
Options exercised (shares)			65
Options exercised (value)	1,621	1,621		1,621
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			281
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			21
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	936	936		936
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			61
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	2,247	2,247		2,247
Stock-based compensation expense	16,924	16,924		16,924
Employee stock plans income tax deficiencies	(2,647)	(2,647)		(2,647)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(986)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	$ (39,665)	(39,665)		(39,665)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	38,591		38,591
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 714,481
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,939)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)	17,541
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Mar. 31, 2014	870,800
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(16,861)
Balance (value) at Mar. 31, 2014	853,939
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	19,844
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	1,577
Net income (loss)	21,421
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	585
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	585
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(7,996)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	9
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(7,987)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2014	883,936
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,275)
Balance (value) at Jun. 30, 2014	868,661
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	7,553
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(3,723)
Net income (loss)	3,830
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	245
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	245
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(48,893)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	502
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(48,391)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2014	837,007
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(17,893)
Balance (value) at Sep. 30, 2014	819,114
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014	714,481
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,939)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)	17,541
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	5,365
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	488
Net income (loss)	5,853
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	455
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	455
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(60,700)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	771
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(59,929)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Mar. 31, 2015	646,897
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(14,680)
Balance (value) at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 632,217
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	38,591		38,591
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 714,481
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,939)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)	17,541
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(8,101)
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	340
Net income (loss)	(7,761)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	1,187
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,187
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(46,228)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	672
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(45,556)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2015	645,261
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(14,927)
Balance (value) at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 630,334
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	38,591		38,591
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 714,481
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,939)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)	17,541
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	5,224
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	285
Net income (loss)	5,509
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	1,817
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,817
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(61,029)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	2,169
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(58,860)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2015	634,808
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(13,485)
Balance (value) at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 621,323
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	38,591		38,591
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 714,481
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(15,939)
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)	17,541
Net income (loss)	15,003	12,678				12,678
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,325						2,325
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(65,547)	(65,547)			(65,547)		0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1,921)						(1,921)
Options exercised (shares)			24
Options exercised (value)	853	853		853
Restricted stock awards released (shares)			296
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0	0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)			20
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	706	706		706
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)			54
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	1,819	1,819		1,819
Stock-based compensation expense	13,384	13,384		13,384
Employee stock plans income tax deficiencies	(1,853)	(1,853)		(1,853)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(1,079)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	$ (38,283)	(38,283)		(38,283)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	37,906		37,906
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 622,703	$ 604,758		$ 1,246,671	$ (200,607)	$ (441,306)	$ 17,945
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Mar. 31, 2015	646,897
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(14,680)
Balance (value) at Mar. 31, 2015	632,217
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(13,466)
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(148)
Net income (loss)	(13,614)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	732
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	732
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	14,472
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(99)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	14,373
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2015	645,261
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(14,927)
Balance (value) at Jun. 30, 2015	630,334
Net income (loss) | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	13,325
Net income (loss) | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	(55)
Net income (loss)	13,270
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	630
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	630
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	(14,801)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | Restatement Adjustment [Member]	1,497
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(13,304)
Balance (value) (Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2015	634,808
Balance (value) (Restatement Adjustment [Member])	(13,485)
Balance (value) at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 621,323