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, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 43,609
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 financing costs	800
Write off of remaining bond discount and interest rate swaps	$ 200