Debt - Dean Foods Receivables Backed Facility (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) entity	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned bankruptcy remote entities | entity	2
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility	$ 525,000,000	$ 685,000,000
Payments for receivables securitization facility	(465,000,000)	$ (920,000,000)
Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility	550,000,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity	427,600,000
Total receivables sold	578,400,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding	60,000,000
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity	249,000,000
Average daily balance under facility	11,021,897.81
Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding	118,600,000
Modified Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance fees	$ 700,000