Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity	Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Noncontrolling Interest Equity
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			65.2
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,893.9	$ (11.1)	$ 0.7	$ 274.7	$ 1,761.3	$ (11.1)	$ (146.3)	$ 1,890.4	$ (11.1)	$ 3.5
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	41.6				41.4			41.4		0.2
Cash dividends declared	(6.5)				(6.5)			(6.5)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	(1.8)			(1.8)				(1.8)
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	1.2			1.2				1.2
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards	(1.5)			(1.5)				(1.5)
Purchases of common stock (in shares)			(2.2)
Purchases of common stock	(55.6)			(55.6)				(55.6)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11.3)						(11.3)	(11.3)
Other	1.2		$ (0.1)	1.2				1.2
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			63.2
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 1,850.1		$ 0.6	218.2	1,785.1		(157.5)	1,846.4		3.7
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	62.9		62.9
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,912.9		$ 0.6	204.6	1,836.7		(132.6)	1,909.3		3.6
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	18.8				18.9			18.9
Cash dividends declared	(7.5)				(7.5)			(7.5)
Amortization of share-based payment awards	8.7			8.7				8.7
Issuance (cancellation) 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	(2.4)			(2.4)				(2.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	12.4						12.4	12.4
Other	$ 0.2				(0.2)			0.2
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021	63.0		63.0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 1,943.0		$ 0.6	$ 210.8	$ 1,848.3		$ (120.3)	$ 1,939.5		$ 3.5