Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 18,407	$ 17,266
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock	46	51
Earnings available to common shareholders	$ 18,361	$ 17,215
Earnings per share - basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	18,502	18,454
Earnings per common share - basic	$ 0.99	$ 0.93
Earnings per share - diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	18,502	18,454
Effect of dilutive options	151	142
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	18,653	18,596
Earnings per common share - diluted	$ 0.98	$ 0.93
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding	0	0

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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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No definition available.

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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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- Definition

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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