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
		Oct. 01, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) item state segment lb T bu gal	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Asset | $	[1]		$ 2,159,755	$ 1,578,917
Total liabilities | $			$ 1,057,736	802,253
Number Of Ethanol Plants			11
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities			4
Number Of Leased Railcars			2,300
Reduction in other assets | $		$ (69,700)
Reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income | $		(10,700)
Number of operating segments | segment			3
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities			29
Ethanol Production [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Ethanol Plants			11
Number of States in which Entity Operates | state			6
Annual Corn Consumption Capacity Bushels | bu			330.0
Expected Annual Ethanol Production | gal			1.0
Annual Distillers Grains Production Capacity, Tons | T			2.5
Annual Corn Oil Production Pounds | lb			290
Agribusiness and Energy Services [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Grain Storage Capacity | bu			27.0
Ethanol Plant Storage Capacity | bu			25.8
Grain Elevator Storage Capacity | bu			1.2
Number Of Grain Elevators			1
Partnership [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Ethanol Plants			11
Number Of Non-Operational Ethanol Production Plant			1
Number Of Fuel Terminal Facilities			4
Number Of Leased Railcars			2,300
Number Of Ethanol Storage Facilities			29
Green Plains Partners L.P. [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Asset | $			$ 100,300	91,200
Total liabilities | $			$ 111,400	$ 151,200
BioProcess Algae [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Less than wholly owned subsidiary, parent ownership percentage			90.00%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage			48.90%
IPO [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage			49.10%
Ownership interest, public, percentage			49.10%
IPO [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage			2.00%
Green Plains Cattle Company LLC [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Reduction in other assets | $		(69,700)
Reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income | $		$ (10,700)

[1] Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany balances