Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)		$ 42,609	$ 14,470	$ (11,322)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Change in fair value of convertible preferred securities (net of income tax of $0, $74 and $0)		344	(126)	0
Change in unrecognized actuarial gain and prior service cost (net of income tax of $(1,809), $(4,355) and $(24,746))		6,138	7,447	40,736
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of income tax of $0, $0 and $82)		3,286	1,039	(7,333)
Cash flow hedge activity (net of income tax of $0, $(72) and $(154))		0	111	253
Other comprehensive income (loss)	[1]	9,768	8,471	33,656
Comprehensive income		52,377	22,941	22,334
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		98	2,876	1,745
Comprehensive income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.		$ 52,279	$ 20,065	$ 20,589

[1] All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits