Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	$ 1,813,925	$ 1,830,070	$ 1,699,534
Sales Revenue, Services, Net	204,272	183,116	183,999
Total revenues	2,018,197	2,013,186	1,883,533
Cost of Goods Sold	1,205,548	1,239,152	1,216,709
Cost of Services	137,495	113,714	110,139
Total cost of revenues	1,343,043	1,352,866	1,326,848
Gross profit	675,154	660,320	556,685
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing	170,008	158,883	161,380
Product development	169,977	168,209	162,334
General and administrative	156,540	162,815	155,715
Amortization of Intangible Assets	20,785	25,112	31,673
Restructuring	6,418	49,090	(7,263)
Total operating expenses	523,728	564,109	503,839
Operating income	151,426	96,211	52,846
Other income (expense)
Interest income	2,126	865	761
Interest expense	(11,581)	(10,948)	(12,289)
Other income (expense), net	(7,396)	(1,501)	(4,216)
Total other income (expense)	(16,851)	(11,584)	(15,744)
Income before income taxes	134,575	84,627	37,102
Income tax provision	(74,326)	(49,574)	(22,099)
Net income	60,249	35,053	15,003
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		3,283	2,325
Net income attributable to Itron, Inc.	$ 57,298	$ 31,770	$ 12,678
Earnings per common share - Basic	$ 1.48	$ 0.83	$ 0.33
Earnings per common share - Diluted	$ 1.45	$ 0.82	$ 0.33
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic	38,655	38,207	38,224
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted	39,387	38,643	38,506