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Other Other Debt [Member] Other Debt [Member] Statement Statement [Line Items] Tax Period [Axis] Tax Period [Axis] Long Long [Member] Accounts Receivable Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Write-off of uncollectible receivables Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Writeoff Statistical Measurement [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Liabilities assumed: Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities [Abstract] Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Foreign Tax Authority Foreign Tax Authority [Member] Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, before Tax Business Combinations [Abstract] Business Combinations [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] LATAM Latin America [Member] Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Universal Weather And Aviation, Inc. [Member] Universal Weather And Aviation, Inc. 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Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward] Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward] Asia Pacific Asia Pacific [Member] Counterparty Name [Domain] Counterparty Name [Domain] Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Consolidation Items [Domain] Consolidation Items [Domain] Adjustment for discrete tax expense (benefit), prior year foreign tax return Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Prior Year Income Taxes, Amount Income Tax Authority [Axis] Income Tax Authority [Axis] Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Tax Identification Number Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) Net income including noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Revenue Disaggregated by 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instruments Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Summary of Restructuring Activities Included in Accrued Expenses Other Current Liabilities Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block] Additions Goodwill, Acquired During Period Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards Share Repurchases Related to Employee Stock Based Compensation Awards, Value Purchases of stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards. Income tax assessment notice, amount Income Tax Examination, Penalties Expense Accounts payable Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable Impact of Derivatives not Designated as Hedges on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Table Text Block] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table] Long-term debt Long-term Debt Goodwill Goodwill [Line Items] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Debt Debt and Lease Obligation Receivable, basis spread on variable rate Trade Receivable Discount Margin, Basis Spread On Variable Rate Trade Receivable Discount Margin, Basis Spread On Variable Rate City Area Code City Area Code Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities The net change during the reporting period in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Cash flow hedges, net of income tax expense of $2.1 and expense of $2.8 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and net of income tax expense of $2.3 and benefit of $2.4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification and Tax Title of 12(b) Security Title of 12(b) Security Accounts receivable Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Minimum Minimum [Member] Receivables [Abstract] Receivables [Abstract] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Summary of Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Table Text Block] Gains or Loss on fair value hedge relationships: Effect of Fair Value Hedges on 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Identifiable intangible and other non-current assets Identifiable Intangible And Other Non Current Assets [Member] Primary financial statement caption encompassing identifiable intangible and other noncurrent assets. Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Short-term derivative assets, net Increase (Decrease) in Derivative Assets Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets and Goodwill Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets and Goodwill Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets/(Liabilities) Hedged Asset, Fair Value Hedge Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Counterparty Name [Axis] Counterparty Name [Axis] Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100.0 shares authorized, 63.3 and 65.2 issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Disposal Group Name [Axis] Disposal Group Name [Axis] Total credit risk Credit Derivative, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted Offsetting Assets [Line Items] Offsetting Assets [Line Items] Maximum additional potential collateral requirements Additional Collateral, Aggregate Fair Value Federal, State and Municipal Tax Authorities in Brazil State And Municipal Tax Authorities And Secretariat Of The Federal Revenue Bureau Of Brazil [Member] State And Municipal Tax Authorities And Secretariat Of The Federal Revenue Bureau Of Brazil [Member] Land Land segment Land Segment [Member] Represents the information related to the Land segment. Position [Axis] Position [Axis] All Currencies [Domain] All Currencies [Domain] Issuance (cancellation) of common stock related to share-based payment awards (in shares) Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture Comprehensive income (loss) including noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Potential Collateral Requirements for Derivative Liabilities with Credit-Risk-Contingent Features Derivative, Credit Risk Related Contingent Features [Abstract] Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Beginning balance (in shares) Ending balance (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Issued Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Reporting [Abstract] Gross Amounts Offset Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability Income Taxes [Table] Income Taxes [Table] Income Taxes [Table] Accounts receivable, net Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Total World Fuel shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Purchase price Business Combination, Consideration Transferred Total liabilities and equity Liabilities and Equity Loss Contingencies [Line Items] Loss Contingencies [Line Items] Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Account receivable sold under the RPAs Trade Receivables Held-for-sale, Reconciliation to Cash Flow, Deductions from Held-for-sale Derivative instruments, income tax expense (benefit) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification, Tax Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Total amount of income and expense line items excluding the impact of hedges, Interest expense and other financing costs Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs, Excluding Hedging Impact Of Hedges Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs, Excluding Hedging Impact Of Hedges Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity Parent [Member] Purchase price Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net Notes receivable Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss General and administrative General and Administrative Expense Financial Instrument [Axis] Financial Instrument [Axis] Weighted average securities which are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because their impact is anti-dilutive or their performance conditions have not been met (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Other Other Noncash Income (Expense) Percent accounts receivable outstanding, less than 60 days Accounts Receivable, Balance Outstanding Less Than 60 Days, Percent Accounts Receivable, Balance Outstanding Less Than 60 Days, Percent Aviation Aviation segment Aviation Segment [Member] Represents the information related to the Aviation segment. Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Liabilities: Liabilities [Abstract] Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line One Other non-current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Gross profit Gross profit Gross Profit Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Potential Collateral Requirements for Derivative Liabilities Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions [Table Text Block] Interest rate contracts Interest Rate Contract [Member] Net income (loss) attributable to World Fuel Net income attributable to World Fuel Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, State or Province Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Total current assets Assets, Current Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Goodwill Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Restructuring costs Severance costs Restructuring Charges Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Finance Leases Finance Lease, Liability Foreign currency (gains) losses, net Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Cash collateral with counterparties Increase (Decrease) Cash Collateral from Counterparties Gain on sale of business Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business Disposal Group Name [Domain] Disposal Group Name [Domain] World Fuel shareholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Offsetting Liabilities [Table] Offsetting Liabilities [Table] Cash surrender value of life insurance Cash Surrender Value [Member] Largest counterparty Largest Counterparty [Member] Largest Counterparty [Member] Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Danish Tax Authority Danish Tax Authority [Member] Danish Tax Authority [Member] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Estimate of possible loss Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss Common Stock Common Stock [Member] Gross profit: Gross Profit [Abstract] Proposed income adjustment Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Loss Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Cash dividends declared Cash dividends declared Dividends, Cash Debt, Interest Income, Expense and Other Finance Costs [Abstract] Debt, Interest Income, Expense and Other Finance Costs [Abstract] Debt, Interest Income, Expense and Other Finance Costs [Abstract] Fees and financing costs under the RPA Fees And Interest Paid Under Receivables Purchase Agreements Fees And Interest Paid Under Receivables Purchase Agreements Provision for bad debt Charges to provision for credit losses Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal) Currency [Axis] Currency [Axis] Credit exposure Credit Exposure [Member] Credit Exposure [Member] Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect Total non-operating expenses, net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Fair Values Derivatives, Balance Sheet Location, by Derivative Contract Type [Table] Fair Values Derivatives, Balance Sheet Location, by Derivative Contract Type [Table] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Effective income tax rate reconciliation, amount other adjustments, amount Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments, Amount Hedged Item Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Fair Value Hedge Short-term derivative assets, net Short Term Derivative Assets Net [Member] Primary financial statement caption encompassing other current assets. Basic weighted average common shares (in shares) Weighted average common shares for basic earnings per common share (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic USD United States of America, Dollars Impact of Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedges on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income Schedule of Fair Value Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location [Table Text Block] Foreign currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Loss Contingencies [Table] Loss Contingencies [Table] Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Cash dividends declared, but not yet paid Dividends Payable Tax Period [Domain] Tax Period [Domain] Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items] Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items] Total equity Beginning balance Ending balance Reduction to opening retained earnings Cumulative transition adjustment to retained earnings Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Revenue Revenue Revenues Schedule of Fair Value Positions of Derivative Instruments Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block] Provision for income taxes Income tax provision Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Proceeds from sale of business, net of divested cash Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses Cash and cash equivalents, as of the beginning of the period Cash and cash equivalents, as of the end of the period Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Restructuring charges Restructuring Charges Write Down Of Receivables Restructuring Charges Write Down Of Receivables New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Table] Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Table] Total liabilities at fair value Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption [Domain] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption [Domain] Schedule of Accounts Receivable, Net and Total Assets by Segment Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block] Schedule of Debt Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Derivative [Line Items] Derivative [Line Items] Acquisitions Business Combination, Consideration Transferred [Abstract] Interest expense and other financing costs, net Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs Proceeds from divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested Gross Derivative Liabilities Gross derivative liabilities Gross Amounts Recognized Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Maximum Maximum [Member] Security Exchange Name Security Exchange Name Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Noncontrolling Interest Equity Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Retained Earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Additional Assessment Tax Authority Additional Assessment [Member] Tax Authority Additional Assessment [Member] Sale of business (Note 3) Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit Effective income tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent Assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Document Transition Report Document Transition Report Net derivative liability positions with credit contingent features Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value Other current and long-term assets Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed Other Current and Long Term Assets Represents the amount of other current and long-term assets acquired at the acquisition date. Disposal Group Classification [Domain] Disposal Group Classification [Domain] Net noncash consideration for acquisition and sale of businesses Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition And Sale Of Business, Consideration Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition And Sale Of Business, Consideration Earnings per Common Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Cash Collateral Derivative, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Cash Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Accounts receivable, net: Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss [Abstract] Information concerning revenue, gross profit and income from operations by segment Accounts receivable, net and total assets by segment Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Fair value measured on recurring basis Fair Value, Recurring [Member] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities [Member] Primary financial statement caption encompassing accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Adoption of New Accounting Standard and Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]