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Debt (Narrative - Ethanol Production Segment) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Jul. 31, 2014 | Aug. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount |  | $ 22,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount |  |
Expected outstanding balance upon maturity | 482,060,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount |  |  |
Restricted cash | 29,742,000 us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 26,994,000 us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |  |
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 6.25%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember |  |  |
Debt instrument amount |  |  | 50,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember |
Debt maturity dates | Nov. 27, 2015 |  |  |
Aggregate of future payments necessary to discontinue free cash flow payments | 16,000,000 gpre_DebtInstrumentAggregateOfFuturePaymentsNecessaryToDiscontinueFreeCashFlowPayments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember |  |  |
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 27,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 70,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 20,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 22,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember |  |  |
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 55,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsCentralCityMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Central City [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 30,500,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsCentralCityMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax | 40.00%gpre_AllowableDividendsAsPercentageOfNetProfitBeforeTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsHoldingsTwoMember |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | Jul. 01, 2019 |  |  |
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 46,800,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsHoldingsTwoMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 20,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsHoldingsTwoMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Obion [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax | 40.00%gpre_AllowableDividendsAsPercentageOfNetProfitBeforeTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember |  |  |
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 60,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Obion [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 37,400,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 25,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOrdMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Ord [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 13,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOrdMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
New Market Tax Credits Debt Forgiveness | 2,200,000 gpre_NewMarketTaxCreditsDebtForgiveness / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember |  |  |
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 30,300,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 1.50%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage | 4.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember |  |  |
Green Plains Processing [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 5.50%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember |  |  |
Debt instrument, floor interest rate | 1.00%gpre_DebtInstrumentFloorInterestRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage | 6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | Jun. 30, 2020 |  |  |
Green Plains Processing [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 225,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 17,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsShenandoahMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Green Plains Superior [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowable dividends as percentage of net profit before tax | 40.00%gpre_AllowableDividendsAsPercentageOfNetProfitBeforeTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember |  |  |
Debt instrument amount |  |  |  | 10,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 40,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember |  |  |
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 15,600,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument unused borrowing capacity fee, percentage | 0.65%gpre_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityFeePercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument unused borrowing capacity fee, percentage | 0.25%gpre_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityFeePercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, floor interest rate | 1.00%gpre_DebtInstrumentFloorInterestRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 5.50%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 4.50%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 4.50%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest rate added to LIBOR | 3.85%us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Bluffton [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage | 7.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 22,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Principal payments (plus interest) | 1,500,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPayment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Final principal and interest payment on September 1, 2019 | 3,700,000 gpre_LineOfCreditFacilityFinalPrincipalAndInterestPayments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsCentralCityMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Central City [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsCentralCityMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage | 8.22%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsHoldingsTwoMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Holdings II [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | Jul. 01, 2019 |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Obion [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Obion [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowable advances decrease | 800,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseDecreaseOtherNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsObionMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | May 20, 2020 |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOrdMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Ord [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOrdMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Revenue Bond [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt instrument amount | 19,200,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Principal payments (plus interest) | 300,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPayment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevenueBondMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | Sep. 01, 2018 |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Processing [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsProcessingMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsShenandoahMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Shenandoah [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsShenandoahMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 75.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of available free cash flow from operations, used to determine annual payments | 50.00%gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_TermLoanMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Ethanol Production Segment [Member] | Green Plains Superior [Member] | Revolving Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowable advances decrease | $ 600,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseDecreaseOtherNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember |  |  |
Debt maturity dates | Oct. 20, 2019 |  |  |

X
- Definition Allowable Dividends As Percentage Of Net Profit Before Tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_AllowableDividendsAsPercentageOfNetProfitBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Debt Instrument, Aggregate Of Future Payments Necessary To Discontinue Free Cash Flow Payments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_DebtInstrumentAggregateOfFuturePaymentsNecessaryToDiscontinueFreeCashFlowPayments
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Debt Instrument Floor Interest Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_DebtInstrumentFloorInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Debt Instrument Unused Borrowing Capacity Fee, Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line of credit facility final principal and interest payments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_LineOfCreditFacilityFinalPrincipalAndInterestPayments
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of debt forgiven according to the terms of New Market Tax Credit financing. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_NewMarketTaxCreditsDebtForgiveness
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage Of Available Free Cash Flow From Operations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpre_PercentageOfAvailableFreeCashFlowFromOperations
Namespace Prefix: | gpre_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
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- 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
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- Definition Net increase or decrease in the carrying amount of the debt instrument for the period for reasons other than accrued but unpaid interest, additional borrowings, forgiveness and repayments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph f -Article 4 + Details
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- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of the required periodic payments including both interest and principal payments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823 + Details
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- Definition The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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