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]	SIlver Spring Networks, Inc. [Member] Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	SIlver Spring Networks, Inc. [Member] Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]
Cumulative effect of accounting change | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	$ 11,727		$ 0		$ 11,727	$ 11,727
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)	$ (553)	$ (553)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		39,498,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2018	734,048		1,334,364	(196,305)	(425,396)	712,663	21,385
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
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)	(529,000)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ (25,000)		(25,000)			(25,000)
Net income (loss)	(56,877)				(57,955)	(57,955)	1,078
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	66,146			66,146		66,146	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,630)						(1,630)
Options exercised (in shares)		103,000
Options exercised (value)	5,551		5,551			5,551
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)		334,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	(2,120)		(2,120)			(2,120)
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)		12,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	824		824			824
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		54,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,335		3,335			3,335
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 24,229		24,229			24,229
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	40,444,000	40,444,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 840,273		$ 1,389,419	$ (138,526)	$ (434,345)	$ 816,548	$ 23,725