Debt - Credit Facilities (Detail)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) entity	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2012 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Write-off of financing costs			$ 1,080,000	$ 0	$ 0
Number of wholly-owned entities | entity			2
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility			$ 2,525,000,000	945,000,000	685,000,000
Payments for receivables securitization facility			(2,360,000,000)	(905,000,000)	$ (920,000,000)
Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Average daily balance under facility			2,200,000
Letters of credit issued			0
Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			450,000,000
Line of credit, amount outstanding			108,700,000
Average daily balance under facility			81,600,000
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity			450,000,000
Total receivables sold			638,300,000
Line of credit facility outstanding, remaining borrowing capacity			136,300,000
Issuance of standby letter of credit			0					$ 80,000,000
Modified receivables securitization facility | Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			350,000,000				$ 300,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs			700,000
Subsidiary debt obligations | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding			205,000,000	40,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Dean Foods Company
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, amount outstanding			$ 11,200,000	$ 9,100,000
Old Credit Facility | Senior Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Write-off of financing costs		$ 5,300,000
Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 450,000,000
Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Net debt issuance costs						4,800,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs						2,500,000
Percentage of guarantor's first-tier foreign subsidiaries (as a percent)			65.00%
Consolidated interest coverage ratio			3.50
Credit Agreement | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Additional borrowing capacity						200,000,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio			4.25
Credit Agreement | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Consolidated interest coverage ratio			2.25
Credit Agreement | Swing Line Loan | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						100,000,000
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 75,000,000
Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Write-off of financing costs	$ 900,000
Net debt issuance costs	700,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 300,000
Total net leverage ratio	4.25
Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Write-off of financing costs	$ 200,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	450,000,000
Net debt issuance costs	600,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 100,000
Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Maximum | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	1.05%
Unused capacity fee (as a percent)	0.55%
Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility | Minimum | Receivables securitization facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate (as a percent)	0.90%
Unused capacity fee (as a percent)	0.40%
LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)			2.00%
LIBOR | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	2.50%
LIBOR | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	1.75%
Alternate Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)			1.00%
Alternate Base Rate | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	1.50%
Alternate Base Rate | Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)	0.75%