Basis Of Presentation And Description Of Business (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, lb in Millions, bu in Millions, T in Millions, gal in Billions					12 Months Ended
		Sep. 09, 2019	Sep. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item segment state T lb bu gal
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Asset | $	[1]			$ 2,216,432	$ 1,698,218
Total liabilities | $				1,153,443	$ 832,932
Number Of Ethanol Plants					13
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities					7
Number Of Leased Railcars					2,630
Number of operating segments | segment					4
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities					32
Ethanol Production [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Ethanol Plants					13
Number of States in which Entity Operates | state					7
Annual Corn Consumption Capacity Bushels | bu					387.0
Expected Annual Ethanol Production | gal					1.1
Annual Distillers Grains Production Capacity, Tons | T					2.9
Annual Corn Oil Production Pounds | lb					292
Agribusiness and Energy Services [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Grain Storage Capacity | bu					43.5
Ethanol Plant Storage Capacity | bu					35.9
Grain Elevator Storage Capacity | bu					7.6
Number Of Grain Elevators					3
Partnership [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Non-Operational Ethanol Production Plant					1
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities					7
Number Of Leased Railcars					2,630
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities					32
Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Asset | $				67,300	$ 90,000
Total liabilities | $				$ 152,900	$ 180,900
BioProcess Algae [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Less than wholy owned subsidiary, parent ownership perecentage					90.00%
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Percent membership interest sold		50.00%	50.00%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage					49.00%
Ownership interest, public, percentage					49.00%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage				49.00%	49.00%
IPO [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage				2.00%	2.00%

[1] Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany payable and receivable balances