Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Sales and merchandising revenues	$ 1,004,072	$ 836,595	$ 993,662	$ 852,016	$ 1,113,055	$ 859,612	$ 1,064,244	$ 887,879	$ 3,686,345	$ 3,924,790	$ 4,198,495
Gross profit	84,836	69,671	87,834	76,458	103,694	77,015	97,042	67,755	318,799	345,506	375,838
Net income (loss) attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 69,720	$ 2,533	$ (26,653)	$ (3,089)	$ 10,145	$ 1,722	$ 14,423	$ (14,696)	$ 42,511	$ 11,594	$ (13,067)
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.48	$ 0.09	$ (0.94)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.36	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ (0.52)	$ 1.51	$ 0.41	$ (0.46)
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.47	$ 0.09	$ (0.94)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.36	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ (0.52)	$ 1.50	$ 0.41	$ (0.46)