Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest Equity
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	$ 1,859.4	$ 0.7	$ 496.4	$ 1,412.0	$ (59.2)	$ 1,849.9	$ 9.5
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	[1]		72.1
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income	[1]	121.0			124.5		124.5	(3.6)
Cash dividends declared	[1]	(12.6)			(12.6)		(12.6)
Investment by noncontrolling interest	[1]	0.5						0.5
Distribution of noncontrolling interest	[1]	(0.3)						(0.3)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	[1]	13.0		13.0			13.0
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (including income tax benefit of $1.6 million in 2016) (in shares)	[1]		0.3
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards	[1]	(6.8)		(6.8)			(6.8)
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	[1]		(0.1)
Purchases of common stock	[1]	(70.5)		(70.5)			(70.5)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)	[1]		(1.6)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]	(39.1)				(43.8)	(43.8)	4.6
Other	[1]	0.0		(0.1)			(0.1)	0.1
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2015	[1]	1,864.4	$ 0.7	431.9	1,523.9	(103.0)	1,853.5	10.9
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015	[1]		70.8
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	$ 1,905.9	$ 0.7	435.3	1,569.4	(109.5)	1,895.9	10.0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	70.8	70.8
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income	[1]	$ 124.4			124.3		124.3	0.1
Cash dividends declared	[1]	(12.5)			(12.5)		(12.5)
Distribution of noncontrolling interest	[1]	(0.2)						(0.2)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	[1]	14.5		14.5			14.5
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (including income tax benefit of $1.6 million in 2016)	[1]	1.6		1.6			1.6
Issuance of common stock related to share-based payment awards (including income tax benefit of $1.6 million in 2016) (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]	(4.2)		(4.2)			(4.2)
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares)	[1]		(0.1)
Purchases of common stock	[1]	(18.4)		(18.4)			(18.4)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)	[1]		(0.4)
Acquisition of remaining 49% equity interest	[2]	(3.7)		(10.9)			(10.9)	7.2
Other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]	(30.7)				(28.9)	(28.9)	(1.8)
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2016	[1]	$ 1,976.8	$ 0.7	$ 418.0	$ 1,681.2	$ (138.3)	$ 1,961.6	$ 15.2
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016	[1]	70.4	70.4

[1] Amounts may not add due to rounding

[2] Relates to Tobras. See Note 3. Acquisitions, Asset and Liabilities Held for Sale.