Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total Itron Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013				39,149
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 856,746	$ 17,735	$ 839,011		$ 1,290,629	$ (21,304)	$ (430,314)
Net income (loss)	(22,300)		(23,670)				(23,670)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,370
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(113,756)	0	(113,756)			(113,756)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1,564)	(1,564)
Options exercised (shares)				65
Options exercised (value)	1,621		1,621		1,621
Restricted stock awards released (shares)				281
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)				21
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	936		936		936
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)				61
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	2,247		2,247		2,247
Stock-based compensation expense	16,924		16,924		16,924
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	(2,647)		(2,647)		(2,647)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)				(986)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	(39,665)		(39,665)		(39,665)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014				38,591
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2014	698,542	17,541	681,001		1,270,045	(135,060)	(453,984)
Net income (loss)	15,003		12,678				12,678
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,325
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(65,547)	0	(65,547)			(65,547)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1,921)	(1,921)
Options exercised (shares)				24
Options exercised (value)	853		853		853
Restricted stock awards released (shares)				296
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)				20
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	706		706		706
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)				54
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	1,819		1,819		1,819
Stock-based compensation expense	13,384		13,384		13,384
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	(1,853)		(1,853)		(1,853)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)				(1,079)
Repurchase of common stock (value)	$ (38,283)		(38,283)		(38,283)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	37,906			37,906
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 622,703	17,945	604,758		1,246,671	(200,607)	(441,306)
Net income (loss)	35,053		31,770				31,770
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,283
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(28,720)	0	(28,720)			(28,720)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(2,479)	(2,479)
Options exercised (shares)				58
Options exercised (value)	2,144		2,144		2,144
Restricted stock awards released (shares)				312
Restricted stock awards released (value)	0		0		0
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (shares)				21
Issuance of stock-based compensation awards (value)	955		955		955
Employee stock purchase plan (shares)				20
Employee stock purchase plan (value)	747		747		747
Stock-based compensation expense	17,080		17,080		17,080
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	$ 2,870		2,870		2,870
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	38,317			38,317
Balance (value) at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 650,353	$ 18,749	$ 631,604		$ 1,270,467	$ (229,327)	$ (409,536)