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
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		69.9
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,940.0	$ 0.7	$ 399.9	$ 1,679.3	$ (154.8)	$ 1,925.0	$ 15.0
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income	(170.3)			(170.2)		(170.2)	(0.1)
Cash dividends declared	(16.3)			(16.3)		(16.3)
Distribution of noncontrolling interest	(0.4)						(0.4)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	21.3		21.3			21.3
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)		(0.4)
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards	0.0
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes 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	$ (4.3)		(4.3)			(4.3)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)	(1.7)	(1.7)
Purchases of common stock	$ (61.9)		(61.9)			(61.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	29.8				28.3	28.3	1.5
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		67.7
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2017	1,738.0	$ 0.7	354.9	1,492.8	(126.5)	1,721.9	16.0
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income	129.0			127.7		127.7	1.3
Cash dividends declared	(16.1)			(16.1)		(16.1)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	7.7		7.7			7.7
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)		0.2
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards	0.0
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares)		0.0
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards	$ (2.1)		(2.1)			(2.1)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.7)	(0.7)
Purchases of common stock	$ (20.0)		(20.0)			(20.0)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6.3)				(5.2)	(5.2)	(1.2)
Reclassification of certain tax effects from US Tax Reform	$ 1.4		(0.2)	1.6		1.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	67.0	67.0
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,831.6	$ 0.7	340.4	1,606.1	(131.7)	1,815.4	16.1
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income	181.1			178.9		178.9	2.2
Cash dividends declared	(23.6)			(23.6)		(23.6)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	22.4		22.4			22.4
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares)		0.3
Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards	0.7		0.7			0.7
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares)		0.0
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)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)	(2.1)	(2.1)
Purchases of common stock	$ (65.4)		(65.4)			(65.4)
Acquisition of remaining noncontrolling interest	(32.7)		(20.6)			(20.6)	(12.1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (17.3)				(14.6)	(14.6)	(2.7)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	65.2	65.2
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,893.9	$ 0.7	$ 274.7	$ 1,761.3	$ (146.3)	$ 1,890.4	$ 3.5