Quarterly Financial Data (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares		Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares		Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares		Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares		Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property $ / shares		Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares		Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares		Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) item $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 715,677	[1]	$ 632,350	[1]	$ 630,570	[1]	$ 438,641	[1]	$ 583,508	[1]	$ 789,048	[1]	$ 807,709	[1]	$ 803,667	[1]	$ 2,417,238	$ 2,983,932	$ 3,289,475
Cost of goods sold	[1]	730,599		674,715		677,215		477,279		480,580	[2]	792,833	[2]	804,113	[2]	816,452	[2]
Operating income (loss)		(14,922)	[1]	(42,365)	[1]	(46,645)	[1]	(38,638)	[1]	102,928	[1]	(3,785)	[1]	3,596	[1]	(12,785)	[1]	(142,570)	89,954	23,748
Other expense		(2,286)	[1]	(9,694)	[1]	(10,759)	[1]	(7,633)	[1]	(28,292)	[1]	(18,826)	[1]	(18,971)	[1]	(18,221)	[1]	(30,372)	(84,310)	(78,902)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(19,514)	[1],[3]	12,565	[1],[3]	15,322	[1],[3]	12,943	[1],[3]	(14,457)	[1]	14,941	[1]	12,498	[1]	7,165	[1]	21,316	20,147	132,061
Net lincome (oss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interest		(34,459)	[1]	(38,850)	[1]	(42,118)	[1]	(33,402)	[1]	60,072	[1]	(7,920)	[1]	(2,979)	[1]	(23,978)	[1]	(148,829)	25,195	76,633
Net income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes				3,359	[1]	1,939	[1]	(4,469)	[1]	(215)	[1]	501	[1]	6,730	[1]	4,523	[1]	829	11,539	4,998
Net loss attributable to Green Plains		$ (39,749)	[1]	$ (38,970)	[1]	$ (45,342)	[1]	$ (42,799)	[1]	$ 53,503	[1]	$ (12,469)	[1]	$ (994)	[1]	$ (24,117)	[1]	$ (166,860)	$ 15,923	$ 61,061
Net income (loss) continuing operations - basic | $ / shares		$ (1.13)	[1],[4]	$ (1.15)	[1],[4]	$ (1.18)	[1],[4]	$ (0.95)	[1],[4]	$ 1.33	[1],[4]	$ (0.32)	[1],[4]	$ (0.19)	[1],[4]	$ (0.71)	[1],[4]	$ (4.40)	$ 0.11	$ 1.43
Net income from discontiued operations - basic | $ / shares				0.09	[1],[4]	0.05	[1],[4]	(0.11)	[1],[4]	(0.01)	[1],[4]	0.01	[1],[4]	0.17	[1],[4]	0.11	[1],[4]	0.02	0.28	0.13
Net loss attributable to Green Plains - basic | $ / shares		(1.13)	[1],[4]	(1.06)	[1],[4]	(1.13)	[1],[4]	(1.06)	[1],[4]	1.32	[1],[4]	(0.31)	[1],[4]	(0.02)	[1],[4]	(0.60)	[1],[4]	(4.38)	0.39	1.56
Net income (loss) from continuing operations - diluted | $ / shares		(1.13)	[1],[4]	(1.15)	[1],[4]	(1.18)	[1],[4]	(0.95)	[1],[4]	1.13	[1],[4]	(0.32)	[1],[4]	(0.19)	[1],[4]	(0.71)	[1],[4]	(4.40)	0.11	1.37
Net income from discontinued operations - diluted | $ / shares				0.09	[1],[4]	0.05	[1],[4]	(0.11)	[1],[4]			0.01	[1],[4]	0.17	[1],[4]	0.11	[1],[4]	0.02	0.28	0.10
Net loss attributable to Green Plains - diluted | $ / shares		$ (1.13)	[1],[4]	$ (1.06)	[1],[4]	$ (1.13)	[1],[4]	$ (1.06)	[1],[4]	$ 1.13	[1],[4]	$ (0.31)	[1],[4]	$ (0.02)	[1],[4]	$ (0.60)	[1],[4]	$ (4.38)	$ 0.39	$ 1.47
Number of ethanol plants sold										3									3
Gain on disposal of assets										$ 150,400									$ 150,351

[1] GPCC results prior to its disposition are classified as discontinued operations in current and prior period consolidated financial statements.

[2] The fourth quarter of 2018 includes the net gain on the sale of assets of $150.4 million related to the sale of three ethanol plants and Fleischmann’s Vinegar

[3] The fourth quarter of 2019 includes the recognition of a $25.3 million valuation allowance which impacted income tax expense.

[4] Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated independently for each of the quarters presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not agree with the total year.