Debt - Dean Foods Receivables Securitization Facility Narrative (Details)		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) entity	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned bankruptcy remote entities | entity		2
Debt issuance costs		$ 5,100,000
Write-off of financing costs		0	$ 1,080,000
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility		1,240,000,000	1,120,000,000
Payments for receivables securitization facility		(1,285,000,000)	$ (1,095,000,000)
Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount borrowed under credit facility		450,000,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity		435,700,000
Total receivables sold		557,800,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding		160,000,000
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity		167,000,000
Average daily balance under facility		168,800,000
Receivables Securitization Facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding		$ 108,700,000
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]
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.90%
Unused capacity fee rate (as a percent)	0.40%
Maximum | Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.05%
Unused capacity fee rate (as a percent)	0.55%