Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and merchandising revenues	$ 911,402	$ 993,662	$ 1,547,141	$ 1,845,678
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues	820,928	905,828	1,392,962	1,681,386
Gross profit	90,474	87,834	154,179	164,292
Operating, administrative and general expenses	59,853	69,544	124,110	151,089
Asset impairment	6,272	0	6,272	0
Goodwill impairment	0	42,000	0	42,000
Interest expense	7,825	5,988	14,824	12,088
Other income:
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates, net	9,803	6,385	13,376	4,507
Other income, net	2,828	4,248	4,514	11,743
Income (loss) before income taxes	29,155	(19,065)	26,863	(24,635)
Income tax provision (benefit)	7,742	7,652	7,432	5,117
Net income (loss)	21,413	(26,717)	19,431	(29,752)
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(116)	(64)	(398)	(10)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 21,529	$ (26,653)	$ 19,829	$ (29,742)
Per common share:
Basic earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders (dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ (0.94)	$ 0.70	$ (1.05)
Diluted earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders (dollars per share)	0.76	(0.94)	0.70	(1.05)
Dividends declared (dollars per share)	$ 0.165	$ 0.16	$ 0.33	$ 0.320