XML 95 R66.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
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   $ 22,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount    
Expected outstanding balance upon maturity 482,060,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount      
Restricted cash 29,742,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 26,994,000us-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     50,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember
 
Debt maturity dates Nov. 27, 2015      
Aggregate of future payments necessary to discontinue free cash flow payments 16,000,000gpre_DebtInstrumentAggregateOfFuturePaymentsNecessaryToDiscontinueFreeCashFlowPayments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsFairmontAndGreenPlainsWoodRiverMember
     
Green Plains Fairmont and Green Plains Wood River [Member] | Term Loan [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Debt instrument amount 27,000,000us-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 70,000,000us-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 20,000,000us-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 22,000,000us-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 55,000,000us-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 30,500,000us-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 46,800,000us-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 20,000,000us-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 60,000,000us-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 37,400,000us-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 25,000,000us-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 13,000,000us-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 2,200,000gpre_NewMarketTaxCreditsDebtForgiveness
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember
     
Green Plains Otter Tail [Member] | Term Loan [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Debt instrument amount 30,300,000us-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 225,000,000us-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 17,000,000us-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       10,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember
Green Plains Superior [Member] | Term Loan [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Debt instrument amount 40,000,000us-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 15,600,000us-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 22,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsBlufftonMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= gpre_RevenueBondMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember
     
Principal payments (plus interest) 1,500,000us-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 3,700,000gpre_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 800,000us-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 19,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsOtterTailMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= gpre_RevenueBondMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember
     
Principal payments (plus interest) 300,000us-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 $ 600,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseDecreaseOtherNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gpre_GreenPlainsSuperiorMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= gpre_RevolvingTermLoansMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gpre_EthanolProductionSegmentMember
     
Debt maturity dates Oct. 20, 2019