Earnings Per Share (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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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)
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested restricted stock									1	9	29
Earnings (losses) available to common shareholders									$ 42,510	$ 11,585	$ (13,096)
Earnings per share – basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic (shares)									28,126,000	28,193,000	28,288,000
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:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic (shares)									28,126,000	28,193,000	28,288,000
Effect of dilutive awards (shares)									170,000	238,000	0
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted									28,296,000	28,431,000	28,288,000
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)
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding (shares)									22,000	0