CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,755,283	$ 7,795,025	$ 7,710,226
Cost of sales	6,100,005	5,976,958	5,722,112
Gross profit	1,655,278	1,818,067	1,988,114
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution	1,403,178	1,346,417	1,347,847
General and administrative	277,659	307,793	342,565
Amortization of intangibles	20,456	20,710	20,752
Facility closing and reorganization costs, net	74,992	24,913	8,719
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	204,414	30,668	0
Other operating income	(2,289)	0	0
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(7,939)	0	0
Total operating costs and expenses	1,970,471	1,730,501	1,719,883
Operating income (loss)	(315,193)	87,566	268,231
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense	56,443	64,961	66,795
Other (income) expense, net	2,877	1,362	(1,215)
Total other expense	59,320	66,323	65,580
Income (loss) before income taxes	(374,513)	21,243	202,651
Income tax expense (benefit)	(42,283)	(26,179)	82,034
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(332,230)	47,422	120,617
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	11,291	(312)
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	4,872	2,875	(376)
Net income (loss)	(327,358)	61,588	119,929
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	458	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company	$ (326,900)	$ 61,588	$ 119,929
Average common shares:
Basic (shares)	91,327,846	90,899,284	90,933,886
Diluted (shares)	91,327,846	91,273,994	91,510,483
Basic income (loss) per common share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (3.63)	$ 0.52	$ 1.33
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0.05	0.16	(0.01)
Net income (loss) (USD per share)	(3.58)	0.68	1.32
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	(3.63)	0.52	1.32
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	0.05	0.15	(0.01)
Net income attributable to Dean Foods Company (USD per share)	$ (3.58)	$ 0.67	$ 1.31