Variable Interest Entity Investment Acquisition Percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	ande_PercentageOfNewCumulativePreferredConvertibleSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments, Return on Capital

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ande_ProceedsfromSaleofEquityMethodInvestmentsReturnonCapital
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Related party derivative asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ande_RelatedPartyDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Related party derivative liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ande_RelatedPartyDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Revenues recognized for the sale of Corn.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ande_RevenuesRecognizedForSaleOfCorn
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues recognized for the sale of Ethanol.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ande_RevenuesRecognizedForSaleOfEthanol
Namespace Prefix:	ande_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Cash dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations that are returns of capital. Excludes dividends or distributions from equity method investments classified as operating activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=ande_AndersonsEthanolInvestmentLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=ande_AndersonsMarathonEthanolLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=ande_LansingTradeGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=ande_LansingTradeGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ande_NewHopeLiuheCo.LimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 04, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 03, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Gain recognized on equity method investment	$ 23,100
Proceeds from sale of investments	8,200	$ 15,013	$ 0
Proceeds from equity method investments, return of capital	1,300
Proceeds from equity method investments, return on capital	$ 6,700
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates		$ 100	4,600
Percentage of shares acquired from subsidiary (percentage)		100.00%
Revenues recognized for the sale of ethanol		$ 87,600	101,800
Revenues recognized for the sale of corn		118,500	96,700
Related party, Gross asset		2,300	2,400	$ 2,300
Related party, Gross liability		$ 400	$ 300	$ 300
The Andersons Ethanol Investment LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)		66.00%
Noncontrolling interest is attributed of all gains and losses of parent (percentage)		34.00%
The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)		50.00%
Lansing Trade Group
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)	31.00%				38.50%
Lansing Trade Group \| New Hope Liuhe Co. Ltd.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)	20.00%