Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net income attributable to Green Plains	$ (3,589)	$ 6,179	$ 7,792	$ (3,318)	$ 42,237	$ 41,749	$ 32,314	$ 43,203	$ 7,064	$ 159,504	$ 43,391
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic									37,947	36,467	30,183
Income (loss) attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic	$ (0.09)	$ 0.16	$ 0.20	$ (0.09)	$ 1.12	$ 1.11	$ 0.86	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ 4.37	$ 1.44
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains on an as-if-converted basis									$ 7,064	$ 161,459	$ 48,442
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation awards									142	217	211
Total potential shares outstanding									39,028	40,730	38,304
Income (loss) attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted	$ (0.09)	$ 0.16	$ 0.19	$ (0.09)	$ 1.07	$ 1.03	$ 0.82	$ 1.04	$ 0.18	$ 3.96	$ 1.26
5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect										$ 576	$ 3,578
Effect of dilutive convertible debt										1,006	6,286
Interest rate, effective percentage	5.75%								5.75%
3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect										$ 1,379	$ 1,473
Effect of dilutive convertible debt									939	3,040	1,624
Interest rate, effective percentage	3.25%								3.25%