Correction of Prior Period Errors - Statement of Operations Year End (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income taxes expense (benefit)		$ (33,214)	$ (630)	$ 3,831					$ 3,201	$ (30,013)	$ (31,376)	$ 24,500	$ (1,840)
Net loss	$ (2,663)	(29,738)	(16,751)	(3,814)	$ (22,218)	$ 3,011	$ (22,361)	$ (12,585)	(20,565)	(50,303)	(52,966)	(54,153)	(30,240)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest		(315)	(130)	97					(33)	(348)	(745)	562	180
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	$ (3,060)	$ (30,053)	$ (16,881)	$ (3,717)	$ (21,992)	$ 3,289	$ (22,269)	$ (12,619)	$ (20,598)	$ (50,651)	$ (53,711)	$ (53,591)	$ (30,060)
Net loss per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.44)	$ 0.06	$ (0.45)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.41)	$ (1.08)	$ (1.26)	$ (1.07)	$ (0.60)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.44)	$ 0.06	$ (0.45)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.41)	$ (1.08)	$ (1.26)	$ (1.07)	$ (0.60)
As Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income taxes expense (benefit)		$ (25,857)	$ (630)	$ 3,831					$ 3,201	$ (22,656)		$ 17,143
Net loss		(22,381)	(16,751)	(3,814)					(20,565)	(42,946)		(61,510)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest		494	197	166					363	857		678
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.		$ (21,887)	$ (16,554)	$ (3,648)					$ (20,202)	$ (42,089)		$ (60,832)
Net loss per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.52)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.08)					$ (0.41)	$ (0.92)		$ (1.21)
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.52)	$ (0.33)	$ (0.08)					$ (0.41)	$ (0.92)		$ (1.21)
Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income taxes expense (benefit)		$ (7,357)	$ 0	$ 0					$ 0	$ (7,357)		$ (7,357)
Net loss		(7,357)	0	0					0	(7,357)		7,357
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest		(809)	(327)	(69)					(396)	(1,205)		(116)
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.		$ (8,166)	$ (327)	$ (69)					$ (396)	$ (8,562)		$ 7,241
Net loss per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.16)	$ 0	$ 0.01					$ 0	$ (0.16)		$ 0.14
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.16)	$ 0	$ 0.01					$ 0	$ (0.16)		$ 0.14