The entity's contracted commodity sales volumes hedged during the historical hedging period, in gallons.

No definition available.

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriodingallons
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The contracted sales volume hedged by the company over the future hedging period, in gallons.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_CommodityHedgedOverFutureHedgingPeriodingallons
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the quantity of corn processing per month under the designated cash flow hedge program.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_CornProcessedPerMonth
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of non-derivative debt designated as a net investment hedge in a foreign operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_Debtamountdesignatedasanetinvestmenthedge
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of anticipated production hedged during the historical hedging period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageofAnticipatedProductionHedgedDuringHistoricalHedgingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of anticipated production hedged over the forward hedging period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_PercentageofAnticipatedProductionHedgedoverFutureHedgingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) after tax related to the increase (decrease) in fair value of price risk derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	adm_UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	adm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on price risk cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeUnrealizedGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of cumulative translation adjustment attributable to gain (loss) on foreign currency derivatives that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64808268&loc=d3e32211-110900

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=adm_A1.75NotesEurosMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=adm_FloatingRateNotesEurosMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, bu in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) bu gal	Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€) gal	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2015 EUR (€)
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt amount designated as a net investment hedge \| €		€ 1,100
Derivatives used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax \| $	$ 59		$ (40)
Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value \| $	1		$ 0
After-tax losses in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions \| $	8
After-tax losses in AOCI from commodity cash flow hedge transactions expected to be recognized in earnings. \| $	$ 8
Corn processed per month (in bushels) \| bu	72
Minimum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged During Historical Hedging Period	22.00%
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged over Future Hedging Period	8.00%	8.00%
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period (in gallons) \| gal	1,000,000
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period (in gallons) \| gal	0	0
Maximum [Member] \| Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged During Historical Hedging Period	50.00%
Percentage of Anticipated Commodity Hedged over Future Hedging Period	86.00%	86.00%
Commodity sales volume hedged during historical hedging period (in gallons) \| gal	28,000,000
Contracted commodity sales volume hedged over future hedging period (in gallons) \| gal	135,000,000	135,000,000
1.75% Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €				€ 600
Floating Rate Notes Euros [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount \| €				€ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				1.75%