Fee-based ethanol storage and throughput agreement

No definition available.

Name:	gpre_EthanolStorageAndThroughputAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of fuel terminal facilities contributed by the general partner in connection with the initial public offering.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_GeneralPartnerSContributedAssetsFuelTerminalFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of ethanol storage facilities contributed by the general partner in connection with the initial public offering.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_GeneralPartnersContributedAssetsEthanolStorageFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of leased railcars contributed by the general partner in connection with the initial public offering.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_GeneralPartnersContributedAssetsLeasedRailcars
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of ethanol production plants associated with contributed ethanol storage facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_GeneralPartnersContributedAssetsNumberOfEthanolProductionPlantsAssociatedWithContributedEthanolStoageFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of gallons of ethanol produced per year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_NumberOfGallonsOfEthanolProducedPerYear
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from entity's first offering of stock to the public, retained for general partnership purposes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_ProceedsFromIssuanceInitialPublicOfferingRetainedForGeneralPartnershipPurposes
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fee-based rail transportation services agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_RailTransportationServicesAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Portion of the consideration received from a stock transaction that is distributed to parent company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransactionDistributionToParentCompany
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity investee's stock owned by the public after stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_SaleOfStockPercentageOfOwnershipAfterTransactionPublicOwnership
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fee based terminaling agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_TerminalingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fee-based trucking transportation agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gpre_TruckingTransportationAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	gpre_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the fee that accompanies borrowing money under the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: 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(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFeeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from entity's first offering of stock to the public.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceInitialPublicOffering
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares issued or sold by the subsidiary or equity method investee per stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesIssuedInTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity investee's stock owned by parent company after stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockPercentageOfOwnershipAfterTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per share amount received by subsidiary or equity investee for each share of common stock issued or sold in the stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis=us-gaap_IPOMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=gpre_GreenPlainsPartnersLimitedPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis=us-gaap_OverAllotmentOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=gpre_SubordinatedUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Green Plains Partners LP (Details) $ / shares in Units, gal in Billions		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 item gal	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of Green Plains Partners common units, net			$ 157,422,000
Number of ethanol storage facilities \| item		38
Number of ethanol production plants associated with contributed ethanol storage facilities \| item		17
Number of fuel terminal facilities \| item		8
Number of leased railcars \| item		3,100
Number of gallons of ethanol produced per year \| gal		1.5
IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Ethanol storage and throughput agreement	10 years
Rail transportation services agreement	6 years
Trucking transportation agreement	1 year
Terminaling agreement	2 years 6 months
Limited Partner [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership interest, public, percentage	35.50%
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of Green Plains Partners common units, net	$ 157,500,000
Proceeds from issuance of Green Plains Partners common units, retained for general partnership purposes	1,300,000
Distribution to Green Plains Inc.	155,300,000
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] \| IPO [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Line of credit, current borrowing capacity	100,000,000
Origination fees	$ 900,000
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] \| Common Units [Member] \| Over-Allotment Option - Included as part of 11.5M common units [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units issued as part of the transaction \| shares	1,500,000
Green Plains Partners LP [Member] \| Limited Partner [Member] \| Common Units [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units issued as part of the transaction \| shares	11,500,000
Offering price per unit sold to the public \| $ / shares	$ 15.00
Green Plains Inc. [Member] \| Limited Partner [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage	62.50%
Green Plains Inc. [Member] \| Limited Partner [Member] \| Common Units [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units issued as part of the transaction \| shares	4,389,642
Green Plains Inc. [Member] \| Limited Partner [Member] \| Subordinated Units [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units issued as part of the transaction \| shares	15,889,642
Green Plains Inc. [Member] \| General Partner [Member] \| IPO [Member]
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership interest, percentage	2.00%