Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets, Current [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 187,928	$ 133,565
Accounts receivable, net	344,411	351,506
Inventories	178,060	163,049
Other current assets	95,424	84,346
Total current assets	805,823	732,466
Property, plant, and equipment, net	178,647	176,458
Deferred tax assets, net	106,896	94,113
Other long-term assets	50,166	50,129
Intangible assets, net	69,485	72,151
Goodwill	462,906	452,494
Total assets	1,673,923	1,577,811
Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Accounts payable	194,012	172,711
Other current liabilities	46,359	43,625
Wages and benefits payable	82,010	82,346
Taxes payable	18,736	10,451
Current portion of debt	15,469	14,063
Current portion of warranty	23,500	24,874
Unearned revenue	84,705	64,976
Total current liabilities	464,791	413,046
Long-term debt	288,266	290,460
Long-term warranty	18,036	18,428
Pension benefit obligation	87,663	84,498
Deferred tax liabilities, net	3,214	3,073
Other long-term obligations	109,346	117,953
Total liabilities	971,316	927,458
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Equity
Preferred stock, no par value, 10 million shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, no par value, 75 million shares authorized, 38,649 and 38,317 shares issued and outstanding	1,276,298	1,270,467
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(213,618)	(229,327)
Accumulated deficit	(379,326)	(409,536)
Total Itron, Inc. shareholders' equity	683,354	631,604
Noncontrolling interests	19,253	18,749
Total equity	702,607	650,353
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,673,923	$ 1,577,811