Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	$ 537,110	$ 432,365
Sales Revenue, Services, Net	70,111	45,227
Revenues	607,221	477,592
Cost of Goods Sold	382,850	287,093
Cost of Services	44,516	32,862
Cost of revenues	427,366	319,955
Gross profit	179,855	157,637
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing	51,921	41,255
Product development	60,284	40,767
General and administrative	102,493	37,187
Amortization of intangible assets	17,740	4,549
Restructuring	87,865	3,052
Total operating expenses	320,303	126,810
Operating income (loss)	(140,448)	30,827
Other income (expense)
Interest income	661	269
Interest expense	(15,504)	(3,199)
Other income (expense), net	(1,167)	(2,836)
Total other income (expense)	(16,010)	(5,766)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(156,458)	25,061
Income tax benefit (provision)	11,188	(9,047)
Net income (loss)	(145,270)	16,014
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	396	169
Net income (loss) attributable to Itron, Inc.	$ (145,666)	$ 15,845
Earnings (loss) per common share - Basic	$ (3.74)	$ 0.41
Earnings (loss) per common share - Diluted	$ (3.74)	$ 0.40
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic	38,945	38,474
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted	38,945	39,215