Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Itron, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ( Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			39,498,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 734,048	$ 712,663		$ 1,334,364	$ (196,305)	$ (425,396)	$ 21,385
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
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
Proceeds from sale of warrants	$ 0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(529,396)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ (25,000)	(25,000)		(25,000)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			39,941,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2019	800,815	776,538		1,357,600	(204,672)	(376,390)	24,277
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
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
Proceeds from sale of warrants	$ 0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	40,444,000		40,444,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 840,273	816,548		1,389,419	(138,526)	(434,345)	23,725
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(78,298)	(81,255)				(81,255)	2,957
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9,572)	(9,572)			(9,572)		0
Options exercised (in shares)			30,000
Options exercised (value)	1,924	1,924		1,924
Restricted stock awards released (in shares)			285,000
Restricted stock awards released (value)	(804)	(804)		(804)
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)			9,000
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	856	856		856
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			37,000
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	3,156	3,156		3,156
Stock-based compensation expense	22,762	22,762		22,762
Stock issued related to equity offering (in shares)			4,472,000
Stock issued related to equity offering	389,419	389,419		389,419
Proceeds from sale of warrants	45,349	45,349		45,349
Purchases of convertible note hedge contracts, net of tax	(63,576)	(63,576)		(63,576)
Registration fee	$ (359)	(359)		(359)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(125,314)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ (8,028)	(8,028)		(8,028)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	$ (343)	(343)		(343)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	45,152,000		45,152,000
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 1,142,759	$ 1,116,077		$ 1,779,775	$ (148,098)	$ (515,600)	$ 26,682