Basis of Presentation, New Accounting Standards, and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	World Fuel Services Corporation (the "Company") was incorporated in Florida in July 1984 and along with its consolidated subsidiaries is referred to collectively in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("10-Q Report") as "World Fuel," "we," "our" and "us." We are a leading global fuel services company, principally engaged in the distribution of fuel and related products and services in the aviation, land and marine transportation industries. In recent years, we have expanded our land product and service offerings to include energy advisory services and supply fulfillment for natural gas and power to commercial, industrial and government customers. Our intention is to become a leading global energy management company offering a full suite of energy advisory, management and fulfillment services, technology solutions, payment management solutions, as well as sustainability products and services across the energy product spectrum. We will continue to focus on enhancing the portfolio of products and services we provide based on changes in customer demand, including sustainability offerings and renewable energy solutions in light of the continued global focus on climate change and the related impacts. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes include our parent company and all subsidiaries where we exercise control, and include the operations of acquired businesses after the completion of their acquisition. The decision of whether or not to consolidate an entity requires consideration of majority voting interests, as well as effective economic or other control over the entity. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the Notes included in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K ("2020 10-K Report"). All intercompany transactions among our businesses have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates	Certain amounts in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes may not add due to rounding; however, all percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts
New Accounting Standards	New Accounting Standards Adoption of New Accounting Standards During 2021, there have been no accounting standards that, upon adoption, had a material impact on the Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or processes. Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting and Scope. In March 2020 and January 2021, ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 were issued, respectively. The amendments provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or other interbank offered rates expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The amendments were effective upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating contracts that could be affected by an alternative reference rate and assessing the potential effects of the guidance but does not anticipate a material impact to its Consolidated Financial Statements or processes. Additionally, LIBOR fallback language has been included, when applicable, in new and renewed contracts entered into by the Company in preparation for the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates when such transition occurs. Other recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted by us are not expected, upon adoption, to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements or processes.