Earnings Per Share (Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (10,499)	$ (1,555,650)	$ (53,020)	$ 23,382	$ (22,709)	[1]	$ 17,177	[1]	$ 43,461	[1]	$ 39,811	[1]	$ (1,595,787)	$ 77,740		$ 228,620
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest													16,550	8,735		12,461
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company													$ (1,579,237)	$ 86,475		$ 241,081
Average common shares													183,388,220	181,799,306		170,986,886
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company													$ (8.61)	$ 0.48		$ 1.41
Stock option conversion														574,094	[2]	2,474,227	[2]
Stock units														488,402	[3]	397,190	[3]
Average common shares - diluted													183,388,220	182,861,802		173,858,303
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company													$ (8.61)	$ 0.47		$ 1.39
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded													20,763,870,000	19,681,022,000		12,846,720,000
Stock Units [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded													2,499,769,000	158,991,000		57,664,000

[1] Earnings (loss) per common share calculations for each of the quarters were based on the basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding for each quarter. The sum of the quarters may not necessarily be equal to the full year earnings (loss) per common share amount.

[2] (1) Anti-dilutive options excluded 20,763,870 19,681,022 12,846,720

[3] (2) Anti-dilutive stock units excluded 2,499,769 158,991 57,664