Debt - Senior Notes Due 2023 (Detail)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 25, 2015 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs		$ 6,800,000	$ 7,900,000
Dean Foods Company | Senior Secured Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding		9,100,000	$ 0
Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily balance under facility		1,500,000
Letters of credit issued		0
Senior Notes Due 2023 | Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount				$ 700,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate				6.50%
Debt Instrument, issue price percentage of principal				100.00%
Certain arrangement fees				$ 7,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		6,800,000		$ 1,800,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding		$ 693,200,000
Senior Notes Due 2023 | Dean Foods Company
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate		6.50%	6.50%
Old Credit Facility | Senior Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Write-off of financing costs	$ 5,300,000
Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	450,000,000
Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Certain arrangement fees	4,800,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	2,500,000
Percentage of guarantor's first-tier foreign subsidiaries		65.00%
Individual net book value of real property		$ 10,000,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio		3.25
Credit Agreement | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Additional borrowing capacity	200,000,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio		2.50
Credit Agreement | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Consolidated interest coverage ratio		2.25
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	75,000,000
Credit Agreement | Swing Line Loan | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 100,000,000
Period 1 | Senior Notes Due 2023 | Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, purchase price, percentage of principal amount redeemed		40.00%
Redemption price percentage		106.50%
Period 2 | Senior Notes Due 2023 | Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Redemption price percentage		100.00%
Period 3 | Senior Notes Due 2023 | Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Redemption price percentage		101.00%
LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.00%
LIBOR | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate during the period		2.25%
LIBOR | Credit Agreement | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		275.00%
LIBOR | Credit Agreement | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.25%
Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Base Rate | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate during the period		1.25%
Base Rate | Credit Agreement | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.75%
Base Rate | Credit Agreement | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.25%