Debt - Dean Foods Receivables Backed Facility (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) entity	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned bankruptcy remote entities | entity	2
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	$ 685,000,000	$ 1,836,000,000
Repayments of Other Debt	920,000,000	$ 1,754,000,000
Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility	550,000,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity	543,200,000
Total receivables sold	604,700,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding	0
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity	397,200,000
Average daily balance under facility	57,800,000
Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding	145,900,000
Modified Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility	350,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance fees	$ 700,000