Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019	[2]	Jun. 30, 2019	[2]	Mar. 31, 2019	[2]	Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018	[2]	Jun. 30, 2018	[2]	Mar. 31, 2018	[2]	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	[1]																	$ (167,689)	$ 4,384	$ 56,063
Net income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes																		829	11,539	4,998
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains		$ (39,749)	[2]	$ (38,970)		$ (45,342)		$ (42,799)		$ 53,503	[2]	$ (12,469)		$ (994)		$ (24,117)		$ (166,860)	$ 15,923	$ 61,061
EPS from continuing operations - basic		$ (1.13)	[2],[3]	$ (1.15)	[3]	$ (1.18)	[3]	$ (0.95)	[3]	$ 1.33	[2],[3]	$ (0.32)	[3]	$ (0.19)	[3]	$ (0.71)	[3]	$ (4.40)	$ 0.11	$ 1.43
EPS from discontinued operations - basic				0.09	[3]	0.05	[3]	(0.11)	[3]	(0.01)	[2],[3]	0.01	[3]	0.17	[3]	0.11	[3]	0.02	0.28	0.13
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - basic		(1.13)	[2],[3]	(1.06)	[3]	(1.13)	[3]	(1.06)	[3]	1.32	[2],[3]	(0.31)	[3]	(0.02)	[3]	(0.60)	[3]	$ (4.38)	$ 0.39	$ 1.56
Net income (loss) from continuing operations -diluted																		$ (167,689)	$ 4,384	$ 68,655
Net income from discontinued operations -diluted																		829	11,539	4,998
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted																		$ (166,860)	$ 15,923	$ 73,653
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic																		38,111	40,320	39,247
Dilutive effect of convertible debt and stock-based compensation																			934	713
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted																		38,111	41,254	50,240
EPS from continuing operations - diluted		(1.13)	[2],[3]	(1.15)	[3]	(1.18)	[3]	(0.95)	[3]	1.13	[2],[3]	(0.32)	[3]	(0.19)	[3]	(0.71)	[3]	$ (4.40)	$ 0.11	$ 1.37
EPS from discontinued operations - diluted				0.09	[3]	0.05	[3]	(0.11)	[3]			0.01	[3]	0.17	[3]	0.11	[3]	0.02	0.28	0.10
Net income (loss) attributable to Green Plains - diluted		$ (1.13)	[2],[3]	$ (1.06)	[3]	$ (1.13)	[3]	$ (1.06)	[3]	$ 1.13	[2],[3]	$ (0.31)	[3]	$ (0.02)	[3]	$ (0.60)	[3]	$ (4.38)	$ 0.39	$ 1.47
Anti-dilutive weighted-average convertible debt and stock-based compensation	[4]																	10,560	7,283
Convertible Notes [Member] | 3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.25%								3.25%								3.25%	3.25%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member] | 3.25% Convertible Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect																				$ 4,433
Dilutive effect of convertible debt and stock-based compensation																				4,209
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.25%								3.25%								3.25%	3.25%
Corporate Activities [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member] | 4.125% Convertible Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest and amortization on convertible debt, net of tax effect																				$ 8,159
Dilutive effect of convertible debt and stock-based compensation																				6,071
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.125%								4.125%								4.125%	4.125%		4.125%

[1] Net income (loss) from continuing operations can be recalculated from the consolidated statements of operations by taking the net income (loss) from continuing operations including noncontrolling interest less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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

[3] 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.

[4] The effect related to the company’s convertible debt and stock-based compensation awards have been excluded from diluted EPS for the periods presented as the inclusion of these shares would have been antidilutive.