Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Sales and merchandising revenues	$ 1,183,473	$ 909,093	$ 1,187,704	$ 918,225	$ 1,271,768	$ 952,927	$ 1,312,082	$ 1,003,294	$ 4,198,495	$ 4,540,071	$ 5,604,574
Gross profit	99,162	85,190	108,173	83,313	113,951	84,918	121,495	76,775	375,838	397,139	365,225
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ (47,029)	$ (1,227)	$ 31,092	$ 4,097	$ 25,892	$ 16,825	$ 44,301	$ 22,708	$ (13,067)	$ 109,726	$ 89,939
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 1.09	$ 0.14	$ 0.89	$ 0.59	$ 1.56	$ 0.80	$ (0.46)	$ 3.85	$ 3.20
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 1.09	$ 0.14	$ 0.89	$ 0.59	$ 1.56	$ 0.80	$ (0.46)	$ 3.84	$ 3.18