Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) gal in Millions						12 Months Ended
		Dec. 04, 2015 USD ($)	May. 25, 2015	Jan. 22, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2013 USD ($) location	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Entity gal		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2015	Jan. 21, 2014	Dec. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from returns of investments in affiliates		$ 8,200,000				$ 1,620,000		$ 46,800,000	$ 0
Proceeds from equity method investment, return of capital		1,300,000
Proceeds from equity method investment, return on capital		6,700,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment		$ 23,100,000
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal						110
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners													34.00%
Number of ethanol entities | Entity						3
Revenues recognized for sale of ethanol						$ 428,200,000		584,200,000	613,700,000
Revenues recognized for sale of corn						443,900,000		480,200,000	719,500,000
Due from related parties						3,900,000		7,700,000
Receivables due from related parties due more than 30 days						63,300.0		84,700.0
Investments in affiliates						938,000		238,000	$ 49,251,000
Equity Method Investments						242,107,000		226,857,000
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates						32,700,000
Undistributed earnings of equity method investments						$ 86,100,000
Percentage of new shares acquired from subsidiary (percentage)						100.00%
Voting interest in IANR (percentage)						49.90%
Voting interest held by the common shareholders (percentage)						50.10%
Rate of dividends accrued annually (percentage)			9.00%			14.00%
Estimated fair value of the Company's investment in IANR						$ 12,800,000
Current maximum exposure to loss related to IANR						22,700,000
Investment and unpaid accrued dividends						9,900,000
Related party, Gross asset						2,300,000		1,400,000
Related party, Gross liability						$ 300,000		3,800,000
The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)						53.00%
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal						55
Equity Method Investments						$ 32,871,000		27,824,000
The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)						50.00%
Capacity of production facility gallon per year | gal						110
Equity method investment ownership percentage transferred										50.00%				50.00%
Additional investment for minority interest ownership by noncontrolling owners										$ 1,100,000
Equity Method Investments						$ 31,255,000		31,537,000
Lux JV Hold Co
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)					100.00%
Investments in affiliates					$ 152,000,000
Thompsons Limited
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)					50.00%	50.00%	[1]
Investments in affiliates					$ 48,000,000
Face amount of debt					$ 64,000,000
Equity Method Investments	[2]					$ 43,964,000		$ 48,455,000
Number of locations | location					12
Lansing Trade Group
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates					$ 40,000,000
Lansing Trade Group
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement for partial redemption of equity method investment				$ 60,000,000
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)		31.00%		39.20%							38.50%	47.50%
Proceeds from returns of investments in affiliates				$ 31,500,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment				17,100,000
Realized gain on disposal of investment, net of tax				10,700,000
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates				$ 28,500,000
Lansing Trade Group | New Hope
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage)		20.00%

[1] Thompsons Limited and related U.S. operating company held by joint ventures

[2] Thompsons Limited and related U.S. operating company held by joint ventures