Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net sales	$ 2,395,007	$ 2,373,280	$ 2,393,869	$ 2,341,040	$ 2,295,450	$ 2,200,899	$ 2,227,542	$ 2,292,430	$ 9,503,196	$ 9,016,321	$ 9,274,662
Cost of sales									7,829,733	7,161,734	7,179,403
Gross profit	441,400	416,800	399,088	416,175	445,770	441,285	472,300	495,232	1,673,463	1,854,587	2,095,259
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 settlement									(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)
Interest expense									61,019	200,558	150,589
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock									0	(415,783)	0
Loss on early retirement of debt	63,300								1,437	63,387	0
Other (income) expense, net									(1,620)	(400)	(1,664)
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) before equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									(20,187)	325,359	23,815
Income (loss) from continuing operations	5,704	(15,136)	(963)	(9,792)	(37,362)	415,518	(32,057)	(20,740)	(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)	5,277	(15,972)	(645)	(8,956)	(37,677)	415,120	(53,883)	495,797	(20,296)	819,357	161,041
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest										(6,179)	(2,419)
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company					(37,677)	415,120	(56,870)	492,605	(20,296)	813,178	158,622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to Dean Foods Company									(27,793)	96,369	8,467
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company									(48,089)	909,547	167,089
Parent
General and administrative									2,383	2,301	8,847
Litigation settlement									(2,521)	(1,019)
Other operating (income) loss										290	574
Interest expense									43,333	184,472	131,714
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock										(415,783)
Loss on early retirement of debt									1,437	63,387
Other (income) expense, net									(2,400)	(2,300)	(8,163)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(42,232)	168,652	(132,972)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(15,290)	(99,908)	(46,699)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									(26,942)	268,560	(86,273)
Equity in earnings (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries									6,158	544,618	247,355
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(20,784)	813,178	161,082
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax									488		(2,460)
Net income (loss)									(20,296)	813,178	158,622
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company										813,178	158,622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to Dean Foods Company									(25,424)	100,488	2,002
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company									(45,720)	913,666	160,624
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales									9,490,049	9,002,872	9,262,725
Cost of sales									7,819,276	7,151,985	7,170,595
Gross profit									1,670,773	1,850,887	2,092,130
Selling and distribution									1,353,810	1,336,319	1,418,615
General and administrative									284,434	306,367	402,518
Amortization of intangibles									2,889	3,669	3,758
Facility closing and reorganization costs									4,460	27,008	55,787
Impairment of long-lived assets									20,820	40,027
Other operating (income) loss									(4,535)	2,204
Interest expense									11,855	11,945	11,744
Other (income) expense, net									3,589	3,269	(44,551)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(6,549)	120,079	244,259
Income tax expense (benefit)									(15,166)	61,829	94,725
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									8,617	58,250	149,534
Equity in earnings (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries									(1,953)	(2,035)	(1,759)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									6,664	56,215	147,775
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									332
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax										491,200
Net income (loss)									6,996	547,415	147,775
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company										547,415	147,775
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to Dean Foods Company									(1,567)	4,204	(1,495)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company									5,429	551,619	146,280
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net sales									13,147	13,449	11,937
Cost of sales									10,457	9,749	8,808
Gross profit									2,690	3,700	3,129
Selling and distribution									1,243	1,426	916
General and administrative									1,927	1,785	1,592
Impairment of long-lived assets										3,414
Other operating (income) loss											(58,033)
Interest expense									5,831	4,141	7,131
Other (income) expense, net									(2,809)	(1,369)	51,050
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(3,502)	(5,697)	473
Income tax expense (benefit)									(1,640)	(4,246)	39,919
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									(1,862)	(1,451)	(39,446)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(1,862)	(1,451)	(39,446)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(984)	2,803	139,279
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax									55	(5)	407
Net income (loss)									(2,791)	1,347	100,240
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest										(6,179)	(2,419)
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company										(4,832)	97,821
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to Dean Foods Company									(802)	(8,323)	7,960
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company									(3,593)	(13,155)	105,781
Eliminations
Equity in earnings (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries									(4,205)	(542,583)	(245,596)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(4,205)	(542,583)	(245,596)
Net income (loss)									(4,205)	(542,583)	(245,596)
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company										(542,583)	(245,596)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company									$ (4,205)	$ (542,583)	$ (245,596)