v2.4.0.8

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  | 0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 Director | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Jul. 31, 2013 Lux JV Hold Co [Member] | Jul. 31, 2013 Thompsons Limited location | Sep. 30, 2014 Thompsons Limited | Jul. 31, 2013 Lansing Trade Group | Sep. 30, 2014 The Andersons Ethanol Investment LLC | Sep. 30, 2014 The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC | Jan. 22, 2014 Lansing Trade Group LLC | Sep. 30, 2014 Lansing Trade Group LLC | Jan. 21, 2014 Lansing Trade Group LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Agreement for partial redemption of equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 60,000,000 |  |
Percentage of company ownership interest (percentage) |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% |  | 66.00% | 50.00% | 39.20% |  | 47.50%
Total distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates | 31,000,000 |  | 96,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,500,000 |  |
Proceeds from returns of investments in affiliates, net of noncontrolling interests |  |  | 35,920,000 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31,500,000 |  |
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,100,000 |
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal, Net of Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,700,000 |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  | 152,000,000 | 48,000,000 |  | 40,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | 64,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
number of locations |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest is attributed of all gains and losses of parent (percentage) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 34.00% |  |  |  |
Percentage of shares acquired from subsidiary (percentage) | 100.00% |  | 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) |  |  | 14.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated fair value of the Company's investment in IANR | 15,000,000 |  | 15,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board of directors (directors) |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Directors from the Company (directors) |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Directors from common shareholders (directors) |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Independent director (directors) |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board of directors required to take key decision (directors) |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current maximum exposure to loss related to IANR | 22,000,000 |  | 22,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment and unpaid accrued dividends | 7,000,000 |  | 7,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues recognized for the sale of ethanol | 131,700,000 | 155,900,000 | 444,200,000 | 464,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues recognized for the sale of corn | 93,000,000 | 179,100,000 | 368,300,000 | 584,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party, Gross asset | 24,600,000 | 14,200,000 | 24,600,000 | 14,200,000 | 8,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party, Gross liability | 18,900,000 | 3,300,000 | 18,900,000 | 3,300,000 | 1,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | $ 3,300,000 |  | $ 3,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal, Net of Tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossonDisposalNetofTax
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Estimated fair value of Company investment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesEstimatedFairValueOfCompanyInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Number of directors from common shareholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesNumberOfDirectorsFromCommonShareholders
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Number of Directors from company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesNumberOfDirectorsFromCompany
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Number of Directors in Board of Directors. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesNumberOfDirectorsInBoardOfDirectors
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Number of independent director. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesNumberOfIndependentDirector
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in debt securities number of votes of directors required for decision. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesNumberOfVotesOfDirectorsRequiredForDecision
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities, Ownership percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Ownership percentage held by common shareholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesOwnershipPercentageHeldByCommonShareholders
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in Debt Securities Rate of dividends accrue to company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_InvestmentInDebtSecuritiesRateOfDividendsAccrueToCompany
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Locations Acquired + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_NumberofLocations
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Payments for Partial Redemption of Equity Method Investment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_PaymentsforPartialRedemptionofEquityMethodInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Variable Interest Entity Investment Acquisition Percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_PercentageOfNewCumulativePreferredConvertibleSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Related party derivative asset. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_RelatedPartyDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Related party derivative liability. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_RelatedPartyDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Revenues recognized for the sale of Corn. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_RevenuesRecognizedForSaleOfCorn
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenues recognized for the sale of Ethanol. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_RevenuesRecognizedForSaleOfEthanol
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Variable interest entity unpaid accrued dividends. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ande_VariableInterestEntityUnpaidAccruedDividends
Namespace Prefix: | ande_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5728-111685 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5747-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant