Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 10,925	$ 1,394	$ 73,409	$ 38,828
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock	44	4	283	119
Earnings available to common shareholders	$ 10,881	$ 1,390	$ 73,126	$ 38,709
Earnings per share - basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	18,469	18,369	18,469	18,350
Earnings per common share - basic	$ 0.59	$ 0.08	$ 3.96	$ 2.11
Earnings per share - diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	18,469	18,369	18,469	18,350
Effect of dilutive awards	118	100	166	143
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	18,586	18,469	18,635	18,493
Earnings per common share - diluted	$ 0.59	$ 0.08	$ 3.92	$ 2.09
Earnings Per Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding	0	8,000	0	40

Earnings Per Share.

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Aggregate of earnings distributed and earnings allocated to participating securities under the two-class method to the extent that participating securities may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the reporting period.

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The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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The sum of dilutive potential common shares used in the calculation of the diluted per-share computation.

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The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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