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]	SIlver Spring Networks, Inc. [Member]	SIlver Spring Networks, Inc. [Member] Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	SIlver Spring Networks, Inc. [Member] Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]
Balance (in 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 (loss)	35,053				31,770	31,770	3,283
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(28,720)			(28,720)		(28,720)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,479)						(2,479)
Options exercised (in shares)		58
Options exercised (value)	2,144		2,144			2,144
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		312
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		21
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	955		955			955
Employee stock purchase plan (in 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 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		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 | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]					11,727
Net income (loss)	60,249				57,298	57,298	2,951
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	58,849			58,849		58,849	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,171)						(2,171)
Options exercised (in shares)		41
Options exercised (value)	1,631		1,631			1,631
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		372
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		10
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	974		974			974
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		31
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	1,978		1,978			1,978
Stock-based compensation expense	20,433		20,433			20,433
Repurchase of noncontrolling interest	(1,219)		(906)			(906)
Registration fee	$ (25)		(25)			(25)
Balance (in 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
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	14,580		215		14,365	14,580
Net income (loss)	(96,581)				(99,250)	(99,250)	2,669
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(25,827)			(25,827)		(25,827)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(500)						(500)
Options exercised (in shares)		152
Options exercised (value)	5,935		5,935			5,935
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		517
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		10
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	729		729			729
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		48
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	2,974		2,974			2,974
Stock-based compensation expense	30,534		30,534			30,534
Repurchase of noncontrolling interest							(313)
Registration fee	$ (22)		(22)			(22)
SSNI acquisition adjustments, net								$ (553)	$ (553)	$ (553)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	39,498	39,498
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 734,048		1,334,364	$ (196,305)	$ (425,396)	712,663	$ 21,385
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	$ 11,727		$ 0			$ 11,727