Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Sales and merchandising revenues	$ 1,113,055	$ 859,612	$ 1,064,244	$ 887,879	$ 1,183,473	$ 909,093	$ 1,187,704	$ 918,225	$ 3,924,790	$ 4,198,495	$ 4,540,071
Gross profit	103,694	77,015	97,042	67,755	99,162	85,190	108,173	83,313	345,506	375,838	397,139
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 10,145	$ 1,722	$ 14,423	$ (14,696)	$ (47,029)	$ (1,227)	$ 31,092	$ 4,097	$ 11,594	$ (13,067)	$ 109,726
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ (0.52)	$ (1.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 1.09	$ 0.14	$ 0.41	$ (0.46)	$ 3.85
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ (0.52)	$ (1.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 1.09	$ 0.14	$ 0.41	$ (0.46)	$ 3.84