Stock-Based Compensation Stock Option Summary (Details) - Employee Stock Option [Member] $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares
[Line Items]
Outstanding, beginning balance, Number | shares		1,180	1,123	1,180
Outstanding, beginning balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 48.31	$ 51.90	$ 54.79
Outstanding, beginning balance, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 405	$ 1,676	$ 1,300
Granted, Number | shares		191	291	160
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 40.40	$ 35.25	$ 35.65
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		$ 13.27	$ 12.09	$ 13.65
Exercised, Number | shares		(58)	(24)	(67)
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 37.00	$ 36.05	$ 28.03
Exercised, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 742	$ 26	$ 826
Forfeited, Number | shares		(36)	(17)	(7)
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 35.29	$ 37.47	$ 44.06
Expired, Number | shares		(318)	(193)	(143)
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 55.13	$ 52.17	$ 68.97
Outstanding, ending balance, Number | shares		959	1,180	1,123	1,180
Outstanding, ending balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 45.64	$ 48.31	$ 51.90	$ 54.79
Outstanding, ending balance, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		6 years 7 months	5 years 7 months 30 days	4 years 4 months 22 days	4 years 7 months 23 days
Outstanding, ending balance, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 19,125	$ 405	$ 1,676	$ 1,300
Exercisable, Number | shares		562
Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		$ 51.18
Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		5 years 1 month
Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 9,181
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expected To Vest Number | shares		385
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price		$ 37.76
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expected To Vest Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		8 years 8 months
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expected To Vest Aggregate Intrinsic Value | $	[1]	$ 9,658

[1] The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options represents amounts that would have been received by the optionees had all in- the-money options been exercised on that date. Specifically, it is the amount by which the market value of Itron’s stock exceeded the exercise price of the outstanding in-the-money options before applicable income taxes, based on our closing stock price on the last business day of the period. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the period is calculated based on our stock price at the date of exercise.