CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,951,230	$ 1,926,722	$ 3,931,737	$ 3,922,408
Cost of sales	1,518,446	1,459,242	3,050,450	2,992,709
Gross profit	432,784	467,480	881,287	929,699
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	336,721	338,010	682,717	683,073
General and administrative	65,972	72,281	141,494	170,945
Amortization of intangibles	5,078	5,155	10,156	10,310
Facility closing and reorganization costs, net	67,661	5,817	76,123	15,103
Impairment of long-lived assets	2,232	0	2,232	0
Other operating income	(2,289)	0	(2,289)	0
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(1,699)	0	(3,599)	0
Total operating costs and expenses	473,676	421,263	906,834	879,431
Operating income (loss)	(40,892)	46,217	(25,547)	50,268
Other expense:
Interest expense	14,069	16,419	28,102	33,883
Other expense, net	782	248	1,252	391
Total other expense	14,851	16,667	29,354	34,274
Income (loss) before income taxes	(55,743)	29,550	(54,901)	15,994
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,727)	11,903	(12,620)	8,106
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(42,016)	17,647	(42,281)	7,888
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	1,922	0	1,922	0
Net income (loss)	(40,094)	17,647	(40,359)	7,888
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ (40,094)	$ 17,647	$ (40,359)	$ 7,888
Average common shares:
Basic (shares)	91,342,652	90,882,415	91,267,748	90,796,585
Diluted (shares)	91,342,652	91,369,030	91,267,748	91,365,946
Basic income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (0.46)	$ 0.19	$ (0.46)	$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(0.44)	0.19	(0.44)	0.09
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(0.46)	0.19	(0.46)	0.09
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(0.44)	0.19	(0.44)	0.09
Cash dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ 0.18	$ 0.18