CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		Total	Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings(Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		$ (98,651)	$ 919	[1]	$ 1,087,722	[1]	$ (992,519)	$ (199,520)	$ 4,747
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	[1]		91,872,895
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation (in shares)	[1]		908,872
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation		(224)	9	[1]	(233)	[1]
Share-based compensation expense		24,247			24,247	[1]
Sale of former subsidiary shares to non-controlling interest		367,540			265,004	[1]		4,469	98,067
Share-based compensation expense for former subsidiary shares		1,167							1,167
Wind-down of former subsidiary joint venture		(4,747)							(4,747)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		2,419							2,419
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company		158,622					158,622
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 14):
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax benefit		(19,793)						(19,780)	(13)
Amounts reclassified to statement of operations related to hedging activities, net of tax		24,964						24,964
Cumulative translation adjustment		11,287						10,354	933
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax benefit		(7,203)						(7,071)	(132)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		459,628	928	[1]	1,376,740	[1]	(833,897)	(186,584)	102,441
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	[1]		92,781,767
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation (in shares)			2,049,610
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation		19,920	20		19,900
Share-based compensation expense		11,718			11,718
Share-based compensation expense for former subsidiary shares		7,733							7,733
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		6,179							6,179
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company		813,178					813,178
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 14):
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax benefit		(81)						(91)	10
Amounts reclassified to statement of operations related to hedging activities, net of tax		58,784						58,784
Cumulative translation adjustment		(10,791)						(9,393)	(1,398)
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax benefit		47,073						47,069	4
Spin-Off of The WhiteWave Foods Company		(699,026)			(617,082)			33,025	(114,969)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		714,315	948		791,276		(20,719)	(57,190)	0
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013		94,831,377	94,831,377
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation (in shares)			976,738
Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation		7,768	10		7,758
Share-based compensation expense		4,556			4,556
Share repurchases (shares)		(1,727,000)	(1,727,275)
Share repurchases		(25,000)	(17)		(24,983)
Cash dividends		(26,232)			(26,232)
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company		(20,296)					(20,296)
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 14):
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax benefit		(116)						(116)
Amounts reclassified to statement of operations related to hedging activities, net of tax		(220)						(220)
Cumulative translation adjustment		(802)						(802)
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax benefit		(26,655)						(26,655)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 627,318	$ 941		$ 752,375		$ (41,015)	$ (84,983)	$ 0
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014		94,080,840	94,080,840

[1] Common Stock and Additional Paid-In Capital at January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012 have been adjusted retroactively to reflect a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected August 26, 2013.