Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	$ (330,727)	$ 204,879	$ 229,517
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	14,086	277,539	209,520
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(316,641)	482,418	439,037
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(175,163)	(123,892)	(178,416)
Proceeds from insurance and other recoveries		3,075	786
Proceeds from divestitures		58,034	91,958
Other, net		(253)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	9,940	12,962	6,650
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	(165,223)	(50,074)	(79,022)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	1,403,494	(124,104)	(49,238)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,238,271	(174,178)	(128,260)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,027,416)	(1,350,275)	(209,268)
Early retirement of debt	(400,000)
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt	(57,243)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	1,043,700	2,481,800	3,274,390
Payments for senior secured revolver	(1,258,450)	(2,316,500)	(3,627,690)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	908,000	2,683,816	3,956,616
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(695,000)	(2,906,311)	(3,734,123)
Proceeds from short-term credit facility	626,750
Payments for short-term credit facility	(37,521)
Payment of financing costs			(600)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	23,481	6,434	3,623
Tax savings on share-based compensation	1,954	571	33
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(877,942)	(1,400,465)	(337,019)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(51,584)	1,098,002	43,421
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(929,526)	(302,463)	(293,598)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1	733	(1,097)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,895)	6,510	16,082
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	24,657	18,147	2,065
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,762	24,657	18,147
Dean Foods Company
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	(550,566)	(88,002)	2,270
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(550,566)	(88,002)	2,270
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(1,564)
Proceeds from intercompany note		1,155,000
Proceeds from insurance and other recoveries		3,075
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations		1,156,511
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	1,441,322
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,441,322	1,156,511
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,027,198)	(1,350,263)	(203,070)
Early retirement of debt	(400,000)
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt	(57,243)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	1,043,700	2,481,800	3,274,390
Payments for senior secured revolver	(1,258,450)	(2,316,500)	(3,627,690)
Proceeds from short-term credit facility	626,750
Payments for short-term credit facility	(37,521)
Payment of financing costs	(6,197)		(600)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	23,481	6,434	3,623
Tax savings on share-based compensation	1,954	571	33
Net change in intercompany balances	172,437	121,630	553,797
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(918,287)	(1,056,328)	483
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(918,287)	(1,056,328)	483
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(27,531)	12,181	2,753
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	15,242	3,061	308
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	(12,289)	15,242	3,061
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	161,706	304,686	346,059
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	161,706	304,686	346,059
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(175,163)	(122,328)	(178,416)
Proceeds from insurance and other recoveries			786
Proceeds from divestitures		58,034	91,958
Other, net		(253)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	9,940	12,962	6,650
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	(165,223)	(51,585)	(79,022)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(165,223)	(51,585)	(79,022)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(218)	(12)	(6,198)
Net change in intercompany balances	21,166	(259,797)	(248,404)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	20,948	(259,809)	(254,602)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	20,948	(259,809)	(254,602)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	17,433	(6,708)	12,435
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		6,708	(5,727)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	17,433		6,708
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	58,133	(11,805)	(118,812)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	14,086	277,539	209,520
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	72,219	265,734	90,708
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from dividend		70,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations		70,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	(37,828)	(124,104)	(49,238)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(37,828)	(54,104)	(49,238)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	908,000	2,683,816	(3,956,616)
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(695,000)	(2,906,311)	(3,734,123)
Repayment of intercompany note		(1,155,000)
Payment of intercompany dividend		(70,000)
Net change in intercompany balances	(193,603)	138,167	(305,393)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	19,397	(1,309,328)	(82,900)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(51,584)	1,098,002	43,421
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(32,187)	(211,326)	(39,479)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1)	733	(1,097)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,203	1,037	894
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	9,415	8,378	7,484
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,618	9,415	8,378
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - continuing operations	(330,727)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	14,086
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(316,641)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for property, plant and equipment	(175,163)
Proceeds from intercompany note		(1,155,000)
Proceeds from dividend		(70,000)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	9,940
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations	(165,223)	(1,225,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations	1,403,494
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,238,271	(1,225,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,027,416)
Early retirement of debt	(400,000)
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt	(57,243)
Proceeds from senior secured revolver	1,043,700
Payments for senior secured revolver	(1,258,450)
Proceeds from receivables-backed facility	908,000
Payments for receivables-backed facility	(695,000)
Repayment of intercompany note		1,155,000
Proceeds from short-term credit facility	626,750
Payment of intercompany dividend		70,000
Payments for short-term credit facility	(37,521)
Payment of financing costs	(6,197)
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes	23,481
Tax savings on share-based compensation	1,954
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - continuing operations	(877,942)	1,225,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	(51,584)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(929,526)	1,225,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,895)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	24,657
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 16,762	$ 24,657