Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net sales	$ 84,898	$ 116,149	$ 122,820	$ 139,413	$ 163,990	$ 162,547	$ 168,531	$ 158,005	$ 463,280	$ 653,073
Cost of goods sold	92,697	124,192	131,079	145,933	154,553	155,498	172,294	160,159	493,901	642,504
Gross loss	(7,799)	(8,043)	(8,259)	(6,520)	9,437	7,049	(3,763)	(2,154)	(30,621)	10,569
General and administrative expenses:
Compensation expense	1,185	1,435	1,510	1,804	2,175	1,676	1,616	1,770	5,934	7,237
Other	1,451	629	923	931	874	846	950	897	3,934	3,567
Operating loss	(10,435)	(10,107)	(10,692)	(9,255)	6,388	4,527	(6,329)	(4,821)	(40,489)	(235)
Other income (expense):
Other income	762	680	0	0					1,442	0
Interest expense	(1,813)	(1,901)	(1,723)	(1,838)	(1,932)	(1,978)	(1,988)	(4,228)	(7,275)	(10,126)
Loss before income taxes	(11,486)	(11,328)	(12,415)	(11,093)	4,456	2,549	(8,317)	(9,049)	(46,322)	(10,361)
Income tax provision (benefit)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net loss	(11,486)	(11,328)	(12,415)	(11,093)	4,456	2,549	(8,317)	(9,049)	(46,322)	(10,361)
Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	1,463	1,498	1,833	1,685	(663)	(355)	1,275	1,387	6,479	1,644
Net income (loss) attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders	$ (10,023)	$ (9,830)	$ (10,582)	$ (9,408)	$ 3,793	$ 2,194	$ (7,042)	$ (7,662)	$ (39,843)	$ (8,717)
Loss per share - basic and diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.89)	$ (1.88)	$ (2.05)	$ (1.83)					$ (7.65)	$ (1.84)
Income (loss) per share basic attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders					$ 0.74	$ 0.43	$ (1.38)	$ (2.15)
Income (loss) per share - diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders					$ 0.62	$ 0.36	$ (1.38)	$ (2.15)