CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 9,503,196		$ 9,016,321		$ 9,274,662
Cost of sales	7,829,733		7,161,734		7,179,403
Gross profit	1,673,463		1,854,587		2,095,259
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	1,355,053		1,337,745		1,419,531
General and administrative	288,744		310,453		412,957
Amortization of intangibles	2,889		3,669		3,758
Facility closing and reorganization costs	4,460		27,008		55,787
Litigation settlements	(2,521)		(1,019)		0
Impairment of long-lived assets	20,820		43,441		0
Other operating (income) loss	(4,535)		2,494		(57,459)
Total operating costs and expenses	1,664,910		1,723,791		1,834,574
Operating income	8,553		130,796		260,685
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense	61,019		200,558		150,589
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt	1,437		63,387		0
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock	0		(415,783)		0
Other income, net	(1,620)		(400)		(1,664)
Total other (income) expense	60,836		(152,238)		148,925
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(52,283)		283,034		111,760
Income tax expense (benefit)	(32,096)		(42,325)		87,945
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(20,187)		325,359		23,815
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(652)		2,803		139,279
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	543		491,195		(2,053)
Net income (loss)	(20,296)		819,357		161,041
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in discontinued operations	0		(6,179)		(2,419)
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ (20,296)		$ 813,178		$ 158,622
Average common shares:
Basic (in shares)	93,916,656	[1]	93,785,611	[1]	92,375,378	[1]
Diluted (in shares)	93,916,656	[1]	94,796,236	[1]	93,065,912	[1]
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ (0.22)	[1]	$ 3.47	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 5.20	[1]	$ 1.46	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ (0.22)	[1]	$ 8.67	[1]	$ 1.72	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ (0.22)	[1]	$ 3.43	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 5.15	[1]	$ 1.44	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (per share)	$ (0.22)	[1]	$ 8.58	[1]	$ 1.70	[1]

[1] Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share and average basic and diluted shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2012 have been adjusted retroactively to reflect a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected August 26, 2013.