CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		1	51,002,234
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 407,637	$ 0	$ 5	$ (3,885)	$ 533,015	$ (108,729)	$ (12,769)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	2,804				2,804
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			69,339
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(30,060)					(30,060)
Comprehensive loss	(16,068)						(16,068)
Comprehensive loss	(46,308)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		1	51,071,573
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	364,313	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	535,819	(138,789)	(28,837)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(12,619)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	347,701
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		1	51,071,573
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	364,313	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	535,819	(138,789)	(28,837)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	2,934				2,934
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			599,281
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			168,673
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	241				241
Settlement of Dow liabilities	22,012				22,012
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value	116				(116)	116
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(53,591)					(53,591)
Comprehensive loss	(2,223)						(2,223)
Comprehensive loss	(56,376)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1	51,839,527
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	347,701
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(22,269)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	333,229
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	3,289
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	333,316
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(21,992)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1	51,839,527
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(3,717)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	320,324
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1	51,839,527
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(20,598)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	304,895
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1	51,839,527
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(50,651)
Comprehensive loss	(60,407)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	270,962
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1	51,839,527
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	3,440				3,440
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			1,155,510
Shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			(48,153)
Shares withheld for taxes	(243)				(243)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			145,444
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	316				316
Convertible preferred dividends	(10,488)				(10,488)
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value	1,139				(1,139)	1,139
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(53,711)					(53,711)
Comprehensive loss	(607)						(607)
Comprehensive loss	(53,573)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		1	53,092,328
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	272,393	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	552,776	(244,836)	(31,667)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020	320,324
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(16,881)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	304,895
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(30,053)
Comprehensive loss	(30,071)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	270,962
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(3,060)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		1	53,092,328
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 272,393	$ 0	$ 5	$ (3,885)	$ 552,776	$ (244,836)	$ (31,667)