Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and merchandising revenues	$ 993,662	$ 1,064,244	$ 1,845,678	$ 1,952,123
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues	905,828	967,202	1,681,386	1,787,326
Gross profit	87,834	97,042	164,292	164,797
Operating, administrative and general expenses	69,928	75,405	151,875	155,286
Goodwill impairment	42,000	0	42,000	0
Interest expense	5,988	6,554	12,088	13,605
Other income (loss):
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net	6,385	2,344	4,507	(4,633)
Other income, net	4,632	5,682	12,529	8,928
Income (loss) before income taxes	(19,065)	23,109	(24,635)	201
Income tax provision (benefit)	7,652	7,668	5,117	382
Net income (loss)	(26,717)	15,441	(29,752)	(181)
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(64)	1,018	(10)	92
Net income (loss) attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ (26,653)	$ 14,423	$ (29,742)	$ (273)
Per common share:
Basic earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders (dollars per share)	$ (0.94)	$ 0.51	$ (1.05)	$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders (dollars per share)	(0.94)	0.51	(1.05)	(0.01)
Dividends declared (dollars per share)	$ 0.160	$ 0.155	$ 0.320	$ 0.31