Aircraft hours available each year under lease

No definition available.

Name:	gpre_AircraftUsingHours
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase (Decrease) In Selling, General And Administration Expenses

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_IncreaseDecreaseInSellingGeneralAndAdministrationExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of leased aircrafts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_NumberOfLeasedAircrafts
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of related party transaction agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_RelatedPartyTransactionNumberOfAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues And Cost Of Goods Sold Subsequent To Disposition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_RevenuesAndCostOfGoodsSoldSubsequentToDisposition
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AircraftRental
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(24))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash payments to suppliers for goods and services provided and to employees for services provided.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3536-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3367-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3367-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToSuppliersAndEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAmountsOfTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=gpre_GreenPlainsCattleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=gpre_Mr.EjnarKnudsenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=gpre_IndirectInterestByMr.EjnarKnudsenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=srt_BoardOfDirectorsChairmanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=gpre_AircraftLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 113,381,000	$ 116,170,000
Outstanding accounts payable	156,693,000	135,829,000
Green Plains Cattle [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount paid on behalf of third party	2,200,000
Reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses	500,000
Revenues and cost of goods sold subsequent to disposition	4,000,000.0
Green Plains Cattle [Member] \| Mr. Ejnar Knudsen [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 100,000
Green Plains Cattle [Member] \| Mr. Ejnar Knudsen [Member] \| Indirect Interest By Mr. Ejnar Knudsen [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Indirect ownership interest percentage	0.0736%
Board of Directors Chairman [Member] \| Aircraft Lease [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of related party transaction agreements \| item	2
Number of leased aircrafts \| item	2
Aircraft lease amount payable, per month	$ 9,766
Aircraft hours available each year under lease	125 hours
Cash payments	$ 129,000	159,000	$ 182,000
Outstanding accounts payable	$ 17,000	$ 0