Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ 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] Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	$ 14,580		$ 215		$ 14,365	$ 14,580
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		38,317,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2016	650,353		1,270,467	$ (229,327)	(409,536)	631,604	$ 18,749
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)		41,000
Options exercised (value)	1,631		1,631			1,631
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		372,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		10,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	974		974			974
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		31,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	1,978		1,978			1,978
Stock-based compensation expense	20,433		20,433			20,433
Registration fee			(906)			(906)	(313)
Registration fee	(25)		(25)			(25)
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	(1,219)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		38,771,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2017	805,632		1,294,767	(170,478)	(337,873)	786,416	19,216
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)		152,000
Options exercised (value)	5,935		5,935			5,935
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		517,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0			0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		10,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	729		729			729
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		48,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	2,974		2,974			2,974
Stock-based compensation expense	30,534		30,534			30,534
Registration fee	$ (22)		(22)			(22)
Stock repurchased								$ 553
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	39,498,000	39,498,000
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	11,727
Net income (loss)	52,415				49,006	49,006	3,409
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(8,367)			(8,367)		(8,367)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(517)						(517)
Options exercised (in shares)		489,000
Options exercised (value)	21,289		21,289			21,289
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		415,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	(3,113)		(3,113)			(3,113)
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		9,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	630		630			630
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		59,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,100		3,100			3,100
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 26,330		26,330			26,330
Registration fee							0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	39,941,000	39,941,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 800,815		1,357,600	$ (204,672)	$ (376,390)	776,538	$ 24,277
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	529,396
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ 25,000		$ 25,000			$ 25,000