Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt obligations	$ 978,214		$ 897,262
Less current portion	(698)		(698)
Total long-term portion	977,516		896,564
Dean Foods Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt obligations	547,529		549,641
Dean Foods Company | Senior secured credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility	47,960		50,250
Weighted average rate (percent)	2.16%	[1]	1.67%	[1]
Dean Foods Company | Senior Notes Due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	475,757		475,579
Interest rate (percent)	7.00%		7.00%
Dean Foods Company | Senior Notes Due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	23,812		23,812
Interest rate (percent)	9.75%		9.75%
Subsidiary
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt obligations	430,685		347,621
Subsidiary | Capital lease and other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital lease and other	1,316		1,813
Subsidiary | Receivables Securitization
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Receivables-back facility	295,000		213,000
Interest rate (percent)	1.28%		1.19%
Subsidiary | Senior Notes Due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes	$ 134,369		$ 132,808
Weighted average rate (percent)			6.90%

[1] Represents a weighted average rate, including applicable interest rate margins, for the credit facility.