CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,795,434	$ 1,980,507
Cost of sales	1,421,681	1,532,004
Gross profit	373,753	448,503
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	337,712	345,996
General and administrative	73,085	75,522
Amortization of intangibles	5,150	5,078
Facility closing and reorganization costs, net	4,332	8,462
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(1,955)	(1,900)
Total operating costs and expenses	418,324	433,158
Operating income (loss)	(44,571)	15,345
Other expense:
Interest expense	19,000	14,033
Other expense, net	212	470
Total other expense	19,212	14,503
Income (loss) before income taxes	(63,783)	842
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,956)	1,107
Net loss	(61,827)	(265)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	253	0
Net loss attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ (61,574)	$ (265)
Average common shares:
Basic (shares)	91,526,266	91,192,013
Diluted (shares)	91,526,266	91,192,013
Basic loss per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (0.67)	$ 0.00
Diluted loss per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (0.67)	$ 0.00