Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		38,591
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 698,542		$ 1,270,045	$ (135,060)	$ (453,984)	$ 681,001	$ 17,541
Net income	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
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	(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
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2015	622,703		1,246,671	(200,607)	(441,306)	604,758	17,945
Net income	35,053				31,770	31,770
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,283						3,283
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(28,720)			(28,720)		(28,720)	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(2,479)						(2,479)
Options exercised (shares)		58
Options exercised (value)	2,144		2,144			2,144
Restricted stock awards released (shares)		312
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)		21
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	955		955			955
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)		20
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	747		747			747
Stock-based compensation expense	17,080		17,080			17,080
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	$ 2,870		2,870			2,870
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	38,317	38,317
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 650,353		1,270,467	(229,327)	(409,536)	631,604	18,749
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	14,580		215		14,365	14,580
Net income	60,249				57,298	57,298
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests							2,951
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	58,849			58,849		58,849	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(2,171)						(2,171)
Options exercised (shares)		41
Options exercised (value)	1,631		1,631			1,631
Restricted stock awards released (shares)		372
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)		10
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	974		974			974
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)		31
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	1,978		1,978			1,978
Stock-based compensation expense	20,433		20,433			20,433
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(1,219)		(906)			(906)	(313)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	$ (25)		(25)			(25)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	38,771	38,771
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 805,632		$ 1,294,767	$ (170,478)	$ (337,873)	$ 786,416	$ 19,216