Debt - Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2016 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt		$ 0		$ 0	$ 43,609	$ 0
Dean Foods Company | Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Retirement of debt	$ 476,200
Total amount redeemed, including accrued and unpaid interest	$ 521,800
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt			$ 38,300
Debt redemption premiums			37,300
Write off of unamortized debt issue costs			800
Write off of remaining bond discount and interest rate swaps			$ 200