Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest Equity	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 0.7	$ 495.2	$ 1,207.3	$ (29.3)	$ 1,673.9	$ 5.0	$ 1,678.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	71.9
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)			50.7		50.7	(0.2)	50.5
Cash dividends declared			(2.6)		(2.6)		(2.6)
Amortization of share-based payment awards		3.8			3.8		3.8
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards including income tax benefit of $0.9 and $0.5 for the three months ended March 2015 and March 2014 respectively		0.6			0.6		0.6
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	0.1
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards		(2.8)			(2.8)		(2.8)
Other comprehensive (loss) income				3.5	3.5		3.5
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	0.7	496.8	1,255.4	(25.8)	1,727.1	4.8	1,731.9
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	72.0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	0.7	496.4	1,418.5	(60.2)	1,855.4	9.5	1,864.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	72.1						72.1
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)			55.6		55.6	(1.0)	54.6
Cash dividends declared			(4.2)		(4.2)		(4.2)
Amortization of share-based payment awards		3.7			3.7		3.7
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards including income tax benefit of $0.9 and $0.5 for the three months ended March 2015 and March 2014 respectively		1.0			1.0		1.0
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	0.1
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards		(4.0)			(4.0)		(4.0)
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	(0.1)
Other comprehensive (loss) income				(36.0)	(36.0)	2.2	(33.8)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 0.7	$ 497.1	$ 1,469.9	$ (96.2)	$ 1,871.5	$ 10.7	$ 1,882.2
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015	72.1						72.1