Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Total assets	$ 250,423				$ 299,586				$ 250,423	$ 299,586
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011	0				0				0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and 5,483,773 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 5,270,848 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	54				53				54	53
Less common stock held in treasury, at cost, 40,481 shares at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011	(4,316)				(4,316)				(4,316)	(4,316)
Additional paid-in capital	189,604				187,841				189,604	187,841
Accumulated deficit	(129,120)				(89,277)				(129,120)	(89,277)
Total BioFuel Energy Corp. stockholders' equity	56,230				94,310				56,230	94,310
Income Statement [Abstract]
Equity in loss of BioFuel Energy, LLC									(39,568)	(7,344)
Net loss	(11,486)	(11,328)	(12,415)	(11,093)	4,456	2,549	(8,317)	(9,049)	(46,322)	(10,361)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	(11,486)	(11,328)	(12,415)	(11,093)	4,456	2,549	(8,317)	(9,049)	(46,322)	(10,361)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in loss of BioFuel Energy, LLC									39,568	7,344
Net cash provided by operating activities									1,453	23,567
Cash flows from investing activities
Distributions from BioFuel Energy, LLC									275	2,738
Net cash used in investing activities									(843)	(2,843)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payment of equity offering costs									0	(1,621)
Payment of debt issuance costs									0	(113)
Net cash used in financing activities									(6,426)	(13,013)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	9,323				15,139				9,323	15,139	7,428
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and 5,483,773 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 5,270,848 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	8				9				8	9
Parent [Member]
Assets
Investment in BioFuel Energy, LLC	56,230				94,310				56,230	94,310
Total assets	56,230				94,310				56,230	94,310
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011	0				0				0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and 5,483,773 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 5,270,848 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	54				53				54	53
Less common stock held in treasury, at cost, 40,481 shares at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011	(4,316)				(4,316)				(4,316)	(4,316)
Additional paid-in capital	189,604				187,841				189,604	187,841
Accumulated deficit	(129,120)				(89,277)				(129,120)	(89,277)
Total BioFuel Energy Corp. stockholders' equity	56,230				94,310				56,230	94,310
Income Statement [Abstract]
Equity in loss of BioFuel Energy, LLC									(39,568)	(7,344)
Other expenses									(275)	(1,373)
Net loss									(39,843)	(8,717)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss									(39,843)	(8,717)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in loss of BioFuel Energy, LLC									39,568	7,344
Net cash provided by operating activities									(275)	(1,373)
Cash flows from investing activities
Distributions from BioFuel Energy, LLC									275	2,738
Net cash used in investing activities									275	2,738
Cash flows from financing activities
Payment of equity offering costs									0	(1,276)
Payment of debt issuance costs									0	(89)
Net cash used in financing activities									0	(1,365)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0				0				0	0
Parent [Member] | Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and 5,483,773 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 5,270,848 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	$ 8				$ 9				$ 8	$ 9