Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,214,094	$ 3,049,854
Cost of sales	2,426,241	2,299,572
Gross profit	787,853	750,282
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	504,235	485,802
General and administrative	129,505	164,662
Amortization of intangibles	2,285	2,738
Facility closing and reorganization costs	28,822	10,643
Other operating income		(19,490)
Total operating costs and expenses	664,847	644,355
Operating income	123,006	105,927
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense	60,747	65,270
Other (income) expense, net	554	(48)
Total other expense	61,301	65,222
Income before income taxes	61,705	40,705
Income taxes	23,822	17,323
Net income	37,883	23,382
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		1,881
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ 37,883	$ 25,263
Average common shares:
Basic	184,104,804	182,817,066
Diluted	184,947,681	183,292,877
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ 0.21	$ 0.14
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ 0.20	$ 0.14