Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 30,661	$ 17,161	$ 29,539	$ 12,578	$ 14,990	$ 16,884	$ 29,199	$ 18,407	$ 89,939	$ 79,480	$ 95,106
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock									357	389	369
Earnings available to common shareholders									$ 89,582	$ 79,091	$ 94,737
Earnings per share – basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic									27,986,000	27,784,000	27,686,000
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.09	$ 0.61	$ 1.05	$ 0.45	$ 0.54	$ 0.61	$ 1.05	$ 0.66	$ 3.20	$ 2.85	$ 3.42
Earnings per share – diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic									27,986,000	27,784,000	27,686,000
Effect of dilutive awards (shares)									200,000	255,000	243,000
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted									28,186,000	28,039,000	27,929,000
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 0.61	$ 1.05	$ 0.45	$ 0.53	$ 0.60	$ 1.04	$ 0.65	$ 3.18	$ 2.82	$ 3.39
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding (shares)									0	0	0