Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets, Current [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 143,951	$ 176,274
Accounts receivable, net	481,389	398,029
Inventories	209,373	193,835
Other current assets	97,925	81,604
Total current assets	932,638	849,742
Property, plant, and equipment, net	234,924	200,768
Deferred tax assets, net	58,917	49,971
Restricted Cash, Noncurrent	1,466	311,010
Other long-term assets	46,843	43,666
Intangible assets, net	318,984	95,228
Goodwill	1,142,757	555,762
Total assets	2,736,529	2,106,147
Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Accounts payable	275,702	262,166
Other current liabilities	90,259	56,736
Wages and benefits payable	119,312	90,505
Taxes payable	22,659	16,100
Current portion of debt	16,250	19,688
Current portion of warranty	26,533	21,150
Unearned revenue	87,293	41,438
Total current liabilities	638,008	507,783
Long-term debt	1,105,538	593,572
Long-term warranty	15,446	13,712
Pension benefit obligation	100,045	95,717
Deferred tax liabilities, net	1,571	1,525
Other long-term obligations	171,318	88,206
Total liabilities	2,031,926	1,300,515
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, 39,181 and 38,771 shares issued and outstanding	1,310,379	1,294,767
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(152,595)	(170,478)
Accumulated deficit	(471,812)	(337,873)
Total Itron, Inc. shareholders' equity	685,972	786,416
Noncontrolling interests	18,631	19,216
Total equity	704,603	805,632
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,736,529	$ 2,106,147