Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies 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, marine and land transportation industries. In recent years, we have expanded our product and service offerings to include energy advisory services and supply fulfillment with respect to natural gas and power and transaction and payment management solutions to commercial and industrial customers. Our intention is to become a leading global energy management company offering a full suite of energy advisory, management and fulfillment services and technology solutions across the energy product spectrum. We also seek to become a leading transaction and payment management company, offering payment management solutions to commercial and industrial customers, principally in the aviation, land and marine transportation industries. We prepared the consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) can be condensed or omitted. Revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities can vary during each quarter of the year. Therefore, the results and trends in these interim financial statements may not be representative of those for the full year. In our opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial statements, which are of a normal and recurring nature, have been made for the interim periods reported. The information included in this 10-Q Report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2018 10-K Report”). Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. Our net income for the six months ending June 30, 2019 of $74.2 million, or $1.10 per diluted common share, includes a net discrete tax benefit of $3.2 million with respect to a foreign tax filing and $3.4 million of operating income ($2.3 million after-tax), which were recorded during the first quarter ending March 31, 2019, both of which should have been recognized in 2018. Excluding these misstatements, which we have determined were not material to the three months ending March 31, 2019 and the six months ending June 30, 2019 or 2018, our net income would have been $68.8 million, or $1.02 per diluted common share. There have been no significant changes, other than those related to the adopted new accounting standards below, in the Company's accounting policies from those disclosed in our 2018 10‑K Report. The significant accounting policies we use for quarterly financial reporting are disclosed in Note 1 of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” included in our 2018 10‑K Report, and in the adopted accounting standards below. Adoption of New Accounting Standard Leases (Topic 842). In February 2016, ASU 2016-02 was issued. The primary objective of the new standard, which amends the existing lease guidance and adds additional disclosures, is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing nearly all lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including operating leases that under the prior standard were off-balance sheet. Topic 842 defines a lease as a contract that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified asset means that the customer has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and the right to direct the use of the asset. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method and applying the transition provisions at the effective date. We implemented the new standard using the package of practical expedients under the transition provisions that allows us not to reassess whether a contract contains a lease, how the lease is classified and if initial direct costs can be capitalized. For all the lessee arrangements, we have elected an accounting policy to combine non-lease components with the related lease components and treat the combined items as a lease for accounting purposes. Lastly, we have elected not to recognize the lease asset and related lease liability for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less. As of the date of implementation on January 1, 2019, the impact of the adoption of the new lease standard resulted in the recognition of the right of use assets of $167.3 million and lease liability of $173.6 million on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The difference between the right of use assets and lease liabilities is primarily the result of accrued lease payments and cumulative lease prepayments as well as the remaining balance of lease incentives received. Subsequent to adoption, the Company does not anticipate the impact on its results of operations and cash flows to be material. Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. In June 2016, ASU 2016-13 was issued. The amendments in this update will change how entities account for credit impairment from trade and other receivables, net investments arising from sales-type and direct financing leases, debt securities, purchased-credit impaired financial assets and other instruments in addition to loans. ASU 2018-19 issued in November 2018, clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. For receivables and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value, entities will be required to estimate expected credit losses. Under the expected loss model, an entity recognizes a loss upon initial recognition of the asset that reflects all future events that will lead to a loss being realized, regardless of whether it is probable that the future event will occur. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity will apply most of the amendments in this update using a modified-retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. We are currently evaluating the impact that the new standard would have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.