CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,843,498	$ 1,951,230	$ 3,638,932	$ 3,931,737
Cost of sales	1,464,018	1,518,446	2,885,699	3,050,450
Gross profit	379,480	432,784	753,233	881,287
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	335,852	336,721	673,564	682,717
General and administrative	71,546	65,972	144,631	141,494
Amortization of intangibles	5,150	5,078	10,300	10,156
Facility closing and reorganization costs, net	7,400	67,661	11,732	76,123
Impairment of long-lived assets	11,860	2,232	11,860	2,232
Other operating income	0	(2,289)	0	(2,289)
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(688)	(1,699)	(2,643)	(3,599)
Total operating costs and expenses	431,120	473,676	849,444	906,834
Operating loss	(51,640)	(40,892)	(96,211)	(25,547)
Other expense:
Interest expense	16,200	14,069	35,200	28,102
Other expense, net	1,500	782	1,712	1,252
Total other expense	17,700	14,851	36,912	29,354
Loss before income taxes	(69,340)	(55,743)	(133,123)	(54,901)
Income tax benefit	(4,477)	(13,727)	(6,433)	(12,620)
Loss from continuing operations	(64,863)	(42,016)	(126,690)	(42,281)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	1,922	0	1,922
Net loss	(64,863)	(40,094)	(126,690)	(40,359)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	392	0	645	0
Net loss attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ (64,471)	$ (40,094)	$ (126,045)	$ (40,359)
Average common shares:
Basic (shares)	91,758,807	91,342,652	91,643,179	91,267,748
Diluted (shares)	91,758,807	91,342,652	91,643,179	91,267,748
Basic loss per common share:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (0.70)	$ (0.46)	$ (1.38)	$ (0.46)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0	0.02	0	0.02
Net loss attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(0.70)	(0.44)	(1.38)	(0.44)
Diluted loss per common share:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(0.70)	(0.46)	(1.38)	(0.46)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0	0.02	0	0.02
Net loss attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (0.70)	$ (0.44)	$ (1.38)	$ (0.44)