Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 14,990	$ 16,884	$ 29,199	$ 18,407	$ 21,697	$ 10,925	$ 45,218	$ 17,266	$ 79,480	$ 95,106	$ 64,662
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock									389	369	204
Earnings available to common shareholders									$ 79,091	$ 94,737	$ 64,458
Earnings per share – basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic									18,523,000	18,457,000	18,356,000
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.91	$ 1.57	$ 0.99	$ 1.17	$ 0.59	$ 2.44	$ 0.93	$ 4.27	$ 5.13	$ 3.51
Earnings per share – diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic									18,523,000	18,457,000	18,356,000
Effect of dilutive awards (shares)									170,000	162,000	151,000
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted									18,693,000	18,619,000	18,507,000
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.90	$ 1.56	$ 0.98	$ 1.17	$ 0.59	$ 2.42	$ 0.93	$ 4.23	$ 5.09	$ 3.48
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding (shares)									0	0	0