Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		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, 2014	[1]	$ 0.7	$ 496.4	$ 1,418.5	$ (60.2)		$ 1,855.4		$ 9.5		$ 1,864.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	72.1
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	[1]			55.6			55.6		(1.0)		54.6
Cash dividends declared	[1]			(4.2)			(4.2)				(4.2)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	[1]		3.7				3.7				3.7
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards, including income tax benefit of $0.9 for the three months ended March 31, 2015	[1]		1.0				1.0				1.0
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	[1]	0.1
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards	[1]		(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)	[1]	(0.1)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]				(36.0)		(36.0)		2.2		(33.8)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	[1]	$ 0.7	497.1	1,469.9	(96.2)		1,871.5		10.7		1,882.2
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015	[1]	72.1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	$ 0.7	435.3	1,588.6	(113.2)		1,911.4		10.0		$ 1,921.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	70.8									70.8
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	[1]			52.4			52.4		(0.1)		$ 52.3
Cash dividends declared	[1]			(4.2)			(4.2)				(4.2)
Distribution of noncontrolling interest	[1]								(0.2)		(0.2)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	[1]		4.0				4.0				4.0
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	[1]	0.1
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards	[1]		(0.9)				(0.9)				(0.9)
Other comprehensive (loss) income					(0.7)	[1]	(0.7)	[1]	1.6	[1]	0.8	[2]
Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	[1]	$ 0.7	$ 438.4	$ 1,636.8	$ (113.9)		$ 1,962.0		$ 11.2		$ 1,973.2
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2016	[1]	70.9									70.9

[1] Amounts may not add due to rounding

[2] Amounts may not add due to rounding