Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accum. Other Comp. Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	Total
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 46	$ 659,200	$ 283,214	$ (4,137)	$ (75,816)	$ 862,507	$ 116,684	$ 979,191
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	46,079,000				7,715,000
Net income (loss)			61,061			61,061	20,570	81,631
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(18,864)			(18,864)		(39,383)
Cash dividends and distributions declared							(20,519)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification				(5,048)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss				(3,925)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax				(8,973)		(8,973)		(8,973)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax								(8,973)
Repurchase of common stock					$ (6,724)	(6,724)		(6,724)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares					395,000
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018		18,326			$ 27,356	45,682		45,682
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018, Shares					(2,784,000)
Stock-based compensation		7,443				7,443		7,662
Stock-based compensation							219
Stock-based compensation, Shares	326,000
Stock options exercised		50				50		50
Stock options exercised, Shares	5,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 46	685,019	325,411	(13,110)	$ (55,184)	942,182	116,954	1,059,136
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	46,410,000				5,326,000
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption			2,787	(2,787)
Beginning balance	$ 46	685,019	328,198	(15,897)	$ (55,184)	942,182	116,954	1,059,136
Net income (loss)			15,923			15,923	20,811	36,734
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(19,393)			(19,393)		(41,265)
Cash dividends and distributions declared							(21,872)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification				(6,788)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss				6,669
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax				(119)		(119)		(119)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax								(119)
Repurchase of common stock					$ (2,979)	(2,979)		(2,979)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares					210,000
Modification of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019		3,480				3,480		3,480
Exchange of 3.25% convertible notes due 2018					$ 1	1		1
Stock-based compensation	$ 1	7,573				7,574		7,851
Stock-based compensation							277
Stock-based compensation, Shares	213,000
Stock options exercised		150				150		150
Stock options exercised, Shares	15,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 47	696,222	324,728	(16,016)	$ (58,162)	946,819	116,170	$ 1,062,989
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	46,638,000				5,536,000			41,101,975
Net income (loss)			(166,860)			(166,860)	18,860	$ (148,000)
Cash dividends and distributions declared			(9,718)			(9,718)		(31,686)
Cash dividends and distributions declared							(21,968)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification				55,973
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss				(38,795)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax								4,952
Other comprehensive income, net of tax				17,178		17,178		17,178
Share of equity method investees other comprehensive loss arising during the period, net of tax				(12,226)		(12,226)		(12,226)
Proceeds from disgorgement of shareholders short-swing profits, net of tax		5,054				5,054		5,054
Issuance of 4.00% converatible notes due 2024, net of tax		24,928				24,928		24,928
Settlements of 3.25% convertible notes due 2019, net of tax		(271)				(271)		(271)
Repurchase of common stock					$ (61,646)	(61,646)		$ (61,646)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares					5,396,000			5,396,608
Stock-based compensation		7,052				7,052		$ 7,371
Stock-based compensation							319
Stock-based compensation, Shares	207,000
Stock options exercised		1,595				1,595		$ 1,595
Stock options exercised, Shares	119,000							118,750
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 47	$ 734,580	$ 148,150	$ (11,064)	$ (119,808)	$ 751,905	$ 113,381	$ 865,286
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	46,964,000				10,932,000			36,031,933