Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Dean Foods Company	Dec. 31, 2013 Dean Foods Company	Mar. 31, 2014 Dean Foods Company Senior secured credit facility		Dec. 31, 2013 Dean Foods Company Senior secured credit facility		Mar. 31, 2014 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2016	Dec. 31, 2013 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2016	Dec. 31, 2006 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2016	Mar. 31, 2014 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2018	Dec. 31, 2013 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2018	Dec. 16, 2010 Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2018	Mar. 31, 2014 Subsidiary Debt Obligation	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiary Debt Obligation	Mar. 31, 2014 Subsidiary Debt Obligation Receivables Securitization	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiary Debt Obligation Receivables Securitization	Mar. 31, 2014 Subsidiary Debt Obligation Senior Notes Due 2017		Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiary Debt Obligation Senior Notes Due 2017		Mar. 31, 2014 Capital lease and other Subsidiary Debt Obligation	Dec. 31, 2013 Capital lease and other Subsidiary Debt Obligation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility					$ 328,940		$ 50,250
Senior notes									475,637	475,579		23,812	23,812						133,317		132,808
Receivables-back facility																		213,000
Capital lease and other																							1,649	1,813
Debt obligations	963,355	897,262	828,389	549,641											134,966	347,621
Less current portion	(698)	(698)
Total long-term portion	$ 962,657	$ 896,564
Weighted average rate (percent)					1.67%	[1]	1.67%	[1]											6.90%	[1]	6.90%	[1]
Interest rate (percent)									7.00%	7.00%	7.00%	9.75%	9.75%	9.75%			0.00%	1.19%

[1] Represents a weighted average rate, including applicable interest rate margins, for the credit facility.