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Acquisitions and Dispositions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
gal
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]      
Cash proceeds from sale of grain elevators $ 9,258,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets $ 245,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets $ 117,711,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
Pre-tax gain from sale of grain elevators       47,133,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
Expected annual ethanol production capacity 1,000,000,000gpre_ExpectedAnnualEthanolProduction    
Purchase price of acquisition 23,900,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet 123,301,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet 1,490,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Cash equity utilized to reduce outstanding debt 557,850,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt 303,495,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt 120,153,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Disposed Asset [Member]      
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]      
Number of grain elevators sold in divestiture 12gpre_NumberOfGrainElevatorsSold
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Grain elevator storage capacity, bushels 32,600,000gpre_GrainElevatorStorageCapacity
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Percent of agribusiness grain storage capacity 83.00%gpre_PercentOfAgribusinessGrainStorageCapacity
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Gross proceeds from the sale, including the assumptions of debt, current liabilities and fees 241,000,000gpre_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Cash proceeds from sale of grain elevators 117,700,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Pre-tax gain from sale of grain elevators 47,100,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
/ us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis
= gpre_DisposedAssetMember		    
Acquisition Of Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member]      
Disposition Of Assets [Line Items]      
Expected annual ethanol production capacity 230,000,000gpre_ExpectedAnnualEthanolProduction
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		    
Cash paid for business acquisition 114,300,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		    
Transaction Costs 800,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAdditionalDisclosuresAcquisitionCosts
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		    
Notes Payable 77,000,000us-gaap_NotesPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		    
Number of ethanol plants 2gpre_NumberOfEthanolPlants
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		    
Consolidated pro forma revenue   3,300,000,000us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		  
Consolidated pro forma net income   47,700,000us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember		  
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred $ 10,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gpre_AcquisitionOfGreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember