Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Accum. Other Comp. Income (Loss) [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Total Green Plains Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member] Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	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, 2018													$ 47	$ 696,222	$ 324,728	$ (16,016)	$ (58,162)	$ 946,819	$ 116,170	$ 1,062,989
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018													46,638,000				5,536,000
Net income (loss)															(166,860)			(166,860)	18,860	(148,000)
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														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
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
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
Net income (loss)															(108,775)			(108,775)	19,121	(89,654)
Cash dividends and distributions declared																				(9,675)
Distributions declared																			(9,675)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification																(768)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss																(2,566)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax																				8,892
Other comprehensive income, net of tax																(3,334)		(3,334)		(3,334)
Share of equity method investees other comprehensive loss arising during the period, net of tax																12,226		12,226		12,226
Acquisition of subsidiary																			6,667	6,667
Repurchase of common stock																	$ (11,479)	(11,479)		(11,479)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares																	881,000
Stock-based compensation														6,309				6,309		6,627
Stock-based compensation																			318
Stock-based compensation, Shares													507,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ (49,496)	$ 11,418	$ (38,078)	$ (38,078)	$ 47	$ 691,393	$ 50,793	$ (2,172)	$ (131,287)	$ 608,774	$ 129,812	$ 738,586	$ 47	740,889	39,375	(2,172)	$ (131,287)	646,852	129,812	$ 776,664
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020					47,471,000				11,813,000				47,471,000				11,813,000			35,657,344
Net income (loss)															(65,992)			(65,992)	21,846	$ (44,146)
Cash dividends and distributions declared																				(9,251)
Distributions declared																			(9,251)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification																(24,230)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss																14,092
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax																				(10,138)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax																(10,138)		(10,138)		(10,138)
Repurchase of common stock																				$ (11,500)
Repurchase of common stock, Shares																				880,979
Exchange of 4.00% convertible notes due 2024														17,683			$ 39,661	57,344		$ 57,344
Exchange of 4.00% convertible notes due 2024, Shares																	(3,569,000)
Issuance of common stock for cash at per share, net of fees													$ 15	355,963				355,978		355,978
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues													14,214,000
Investment in subsidiary																			12,264	12,264
Issuance of warrants														3,431				3,431	(3,431)
Stock-based compensation														1,103				1,103		1,382
Stock-based compensation																			279
Stock-based compensation, Shares													155,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2021													$ 62	$ 1,069,573	$ (15,199)	$ (12,310)	$ (91,626)	$ 950,500	$ 151,519	$ 1,102,019
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021													61,840,000				8,244,000			53,595,978