Debt - Dean Foods Receivables Backed Facility (Details)		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) entity	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned bankruptcy remote entities | entity		2
Debt issuance costs		$ 6,500,000
Write-off of financing costs		1,080,000	$ 0
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility		535,000,000	0
Payments for receivables securitization facility		(525,000,000)	$ 0
Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility		450,000,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity		450,000,000
Total receivables sold		602,400,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding		50,000,000
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity		282,800,000
Average daily balance under facility		38,200,000
Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding		$ 117,200,000
Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility	$ 450,000,000
Debt issuance costs	600,000
Unamortized debt issuance fees	100,000
Write-off of financing costs	$ 200,000
Minimum | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	0.90%
Unused capacity fee percentage	0.40%
Maximum | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.05%
Unused capacity fee percentage	0.55%