Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) gal in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 22, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Entity gal		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Entity	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2015	Jan. 21, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013 location	Dec. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of investments	$ 8,200,000		$ 15,013,000		$ 0	$ 0
Proceeds from equity method investment, return of capital	1,300,000
Proceeds from equity method investment, return on capital	6,700,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment	$ 23,100,000
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal			110
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners											34.00%
Number of ethanol entities | Entity			3		3
Revenues recognized for sale of ethanol			$ 427,800,000		$ 428,200,000	584,200,000
Revenues recognized for sale of corn			426,800,000		443,900,000	480,200,000
Due from related parties			4,100,000		3,900,000
Receivables due from related parties due more than 30 days			9,400		63,300
Investments in affiliates			2,523,000		938,000	$ 238,000
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates			33,600,000
Undistributed earnings of equity method investments					$ 72,100,000
Percentage of new shares acquired from subsidiary (percentage)					100.00%
Related party, gross asset			4,100,000		$ 2,300,000
Related party, gross liability			$ 100,000		$ 300,000
The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)			55.00%
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal			55
The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)			50.00%
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal			110
Equity method investment ownership percentage transferred							50.00%					50.00%
Additional investment for minority interest ownership by noncontrolling owners							$ 1,100,000
Lux JV Hold Co
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)										100.00%
Thompsons Limited
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)			50.00%	[1]						50.00%
Number of locations | location										12
LTG
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement for partial redemption of equity method investment		$ 60,000,000
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)	31.00%	39.20%						38.50%	47.50%
Proceeds from sale of investments		$ 31,500,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment		17,100,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment, net of tax		10,700,000
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates		$ 28,500,000
LTG | New Hope
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)	20.00%

[1] Thompsons Limited and related U.S. operating company held by joint ventures