Subsequent Event (Text Block)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Subsequent Events Business Acquisition On January 5, 2018, we completed our acquisition of SSNI by purchasing all outstanding shares for $16.25 per share, resulting in a total purchase price, net of cash, of approximately $810 million. All other business combination disclosures are not available due to the proximity of the acquisition to the issuance of these financial statements. During 2017, we incurred approximately $7 million of acquisition and integration related expenses associated with the SSNI acquisition. SSNI provided Internet of Important Things^TM connectivity platforms and solutions to utilities and cities. The acquisition continues our focus on expanding management services and SaaS solutions, which allows us to provide more value to our customers by optimizing devices, network technologies, outcomes and analytics. Debt Refinancing On January 5, 2018, we entered into the 2018 credit facility, which amended and restated the 2015 credit facility. The 2018 credit facility consists of a $650 million U.S. dollar term loan (the term loan) and a multicurrency revolving line of credit (the revolver) with a principal amount of up to $500 million. The revolver also contains a $300 million standby letter of credit sub-facility and a $50 million swingline sub-facility (available for immediate cash needs at a higher interest rate). Both the term loan and the revolver mature on January 5, 2023, and amounts borrowed under the revolver may be repaid and reborrowed until the revolver's maturity, at which time the revolver will terminate, and all outstanding loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, must be repaid. Amounts not borrowed under the revolver are subject to a commitment fee, which is paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter, ranging from 0.18% to 0.35% per annum depending on our total leverage ratio as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. Amounts repaid on the term loan may not be reborrowed. The 2018 credit facility permits us and certain of our foreign subsidiaries to borrow in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, or, with lender approval, other currencies readily convertible into U.S. dollars. All obligations under the 2018 credit facility are guaranteed by Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries, including a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and up to 66% of the voting stock (100% of the non-voting stock) of their first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the obligations of any foreign subsidiary who is a foreign borrower, as defined by the 2018 credit facility, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary and by its direct and indirect foreign parents. Scheduled principal repayments for the term loan are due quarterly in the amount of $4.1 million from June 2018 through March 2019, $8.1 million from June 2019 through March 2020, $12.2 million from June 2020 through March 2021, $16.3 million from June 2021 through December 2022, and the remainder due at maturity on January 5, 2023. The term loan may be repaid early in whole or in part, subject to certain minimum thresholds, without penalty. Under the 2018 credit facility, we elect applicable market interest rates for both the term loan and any outstanding revolving loans. We also pay an applicable margin, which is based on our total leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). The applicable rates per annum may be based on either: (1) the LIBOR rate or EURIBOR rate (floor of 0%), plus an applicable margin, or (2) the Alternate Base Rate, plus an applicable margin. The Alternate Base Rate election is equal to the greatest of three rates: (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Federal Reserve effective rate plus 1/2 of 1%, or (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1%. At January 5, 2018, the interest rate for both the term loan and the USD revolver was 3.56% (the LIBOR rate plus a margin of 2.00%), and the interest rate for the EUR revolver was 2.00% (the EURIBOR floor rate plus a margin of 2.00%). Senior Notes On January 19, 2018, we closed an offering of an additional $100 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.00% senior notes which were issued pursuant to the Indenture, as disclosed in Note 6: Debt. 2018 Restructuring Projects On February 22, 2018, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan (2018 Projects). The 2018 Projects will include activities that continue our efforts to optimize our global supply chain and manufacturing operations, product development, and sales and marketing organizations. We expect to substantially complete the plan by the end of 2020. We estimate pre-tax restructuring charges of $100 million to $110 million with approximately 20% related to closing or consolidating facilities and non-manufacturing operations and approximately 80% associated with severance and other one-time termination benefits. Of the total estimated charge, approximately 95% will result in cash expenditures. We expect to record the majority of the charges in the first quarter of 2018.

Subsequent Events

Business Acquisition

On January 5, 2018, we completed our acquisition of SSNI by purchasing all outstanding shares for $16.25 per share, resulting in a total purchase price, net of cash, of approximately $810 million. All other business combination disclosures are not available due to the proximity of the acquisition to the issuance of these financial statements. During 2017, we incurred approximately $7 million of acquisition and integration related expenses associated with the SSNI acquisition.

SSNI provided Internet of Important Things^TM connectivity platforms and solutions to utilities and cities. The acquisition continues our focus on expanding management services and SaaS solutions, which allows us to provide more value to our customers by optimizing devices, network technologies, outcomes and analytics.

Debt Refinancing

On January 5, 2018, we entered into the 2018 credit facility, which amended and restated the 2015 credit facility. The 2018 credit facility consists of a $650 million U.S. dollar term loan (the term loan) and a multicurrency revolving line of credit (the revolver) with a principal amount of up to $500 million. The revolver also contains a $300 million standby letter of credit sub-facility and a $50 million swingline sub-facility (available for immediate cash needs at a higher interest rate). Both the term loan and the revolver mature on January 5, 2023, and amounts borrowed under the revolver may be repaid and reborrowed until the revolver's maturity, at which time the revolver will terminate, and all outstanding loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, must be repaid. Amounts not borrowed under the revolver are subject to a commitment fee, which is paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter, ranging from 0.18% to 0.35% per annum depending on our total leverage ratio as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. Amounts repaid on the term loan may not be reborrowed. The 2018 credit facility permits us and certain of our foreign subsidiaries to borrow in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, or, with lender approval, other currencies readily convertible into U.S. dollars. All obligations under the 2018 credit facility are guaranteed by Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries, including a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and up to 66% of the voting stock (100% of the non-voting stock) of their first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the obligations of any foreign subsidiary who is a foreign borrower, as defined by the 2018 credit facility, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary and by its direct and indirect foreign parents.

Scheduled principal repayments for the term loan are due quarterly in the amount of $4.1 million from June 2018 through March 2019, $8.1 million from June 2019 through March 2020, $12.2 million from June 2020 through March 2021, $16.3 million from June 2021 through December 2022, and the remainder due at maturity on January 5, 2023. The term loan may be repaid early in whole or in part, subject to certain minimum thresholds, without penalty.

Under the 2018 credit facility, we elect applicable market interest rates for both the term loan and any outstanding revolving loans. We also pay an applicable margin, which is based on our total leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). The applicable rates per annum may be based on either: (1) the LIBOR rate or EURIBOR rate (floor of 0%), plus an applicable margin, or (2) the Alternate Base Rate, plus an applicable margin. The Alternate Base Rate election is equal to the greatest of three rates: (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Federal Reserve effective rate plus 1/2 of 1%, or (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1%. At January 5, 2018, the interest rate for both the term loan and the USD revolver was 3.56% (the LIBOR rate plus a margin of 2.00%), and the interest rate for the EUR revolver was 2.00% (the EURIBOR floor rate plus a margin of 2.00%).

Senior Notes

On January 19, 2018, we closed an offering of an additional $100 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.00% senior notes which were issued pursuant to the Indenture, as disclosed in Note 6: Debt.

2018 Restructuring Projects

On February 22, 2018, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan (2018 Projects). The 2018 Projects will include activities that continue our efforts to optimize our global supply chain and manufacturing operations, product development, and sales and marketing organizations. We expect to substantially complete the plan by the end of 2020. We estimate pre-tax restructuring charges of $100 million to $110 million with approximately 20% related to closing or consolidating facilities and non-manufacturing operations and approximately 80% associated with severance and other one-time termination benefits. Of the total estimated charge, approximately 95% will result in cash expenditures. We expect to record the majority of the charges in the first quarter of 2018.