Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Total Revenues	$ 1,885,603	$ 1,982,755	$ 2,325,041	$ 1,976,792	$ 812,662	$ 685,579	$ 911,402	$ 635,739	$ 8,170,191	$ 3,045,382	$ 3,686,345
Gross profit	138,359	109,141	160,728	109,664	93,962	53,864	90,474	63,705	517,892	302,005	318,799
Net income	5,667	(5,870)	29,411	(14,148)	23,669	(1,875)	21,413	(1,982)	15,060	41,225	42,609
Net income (loss) attributable to The Andersons, Inc.	$ 6,649	$ (4,237)	$ 29,888	$ (13,993)	$ 23,753	$ (2,098)	$ 21,529	$ (1,700)	$ 18,307	$ 41,484	$ 42,511
Earnings per share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.13)	$ 0.92	$ (0.43)	$ 0.84	$ (0.07)	$ 0.76	$ (0.06)	$ 0.56	$ 1.47	$ 1.51
Earnings per share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.13)	$ 0.91	$ (0.43)	$ 0.83	$ (0.07)	$ 0.76	$ (0.06)	$ 0.55	$ 1.46	$ 1.50