Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts receivable, net Accrued expenses and other current liabilities not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Non-current income tax liabilities, net Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) This element may be used to describe acquisitions and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. Acquisitions and Significant Accounting Policies Additional Paid in Capital Capital in excess of par value Capital in Excess of Par Value Other Amortization of share-based payment awards Issuance of shares related to share-based payment awards, income tax benefit Total adjustments Total adjustments Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interest to net cash provided by operating activities: Amendment Flag Total assets Total assets Assets: Total current assets Total current assets Current assets: The cash inflow from the borrowings made from noncontrolling interest shareholders. Borrowings from noncontrolling shareholders of a subsidiary Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities: Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, issued Common stock, outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized, 68,717 and 59,385 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Comprehensive income: Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Cost of revenue Current Fiscal Year End Date Customer Deposits, Current Customer deposits Short-term debt Debt Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements payable beyond one year (or the operating cycle, if longer). Also includes the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Deferred compensation and other long-term liabilities Deferred income tax (benefit) provision Depreciation and amortization Short-term derivative assets, net Derivatives Derivative Liabilities, Current Short-term derivative liabilities, net Cash dividends declared Cash dividends declared Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Type Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Earnings per Share Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Equity Component [Domain] Federal and state tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for share-based payment awards Fair Value Measurements Foreign currency losses (gains), net Foreign currency losses (gains), net Gain on short-term investments Gain on short-term investments General and administrative Goodwill Gross Profit Gross profit Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Income Statement [Abstract] Income Taxes Provision for income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net 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. Increase (Decrease) in Accrued expenses and other liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Customer Deposits Customer deposits The net change during the reporting period in amount due for income taxes, deferred compensation and and other long-term liabilities not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Non-current income tax liabilities, net, deferred compensation and other long-term liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets The net change during the reporting period in the amounts paid in advance for costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event and current assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Increase (Decrease) In Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate fair value of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments and which are expected to be converted into cash or otherwise disposed of within a year or the normal operating cycle. Increase (Decrease) In Short Term Derivative Assets Short-term derivative assets, net The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate fair value of all liabilities resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments and which are expected to be extinguished or otherwise disposed of within a year or the normal operating cycle. Increase (Decrease) In Short Term Derivative Liabilities Short-term derivative liabilities, net Identifiable intangible assets, net Amount of net interest income or expense, financial costs related to a receivables purchase agreement and revolving credit facilities. Interest expense and other financing costs, net Interest expense and other financing costs, net Inventories Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Short-Term Investments Compensation and employee benefits Legal Entity [Axis] Total liabilities Total liabilities Liabilities: Total liabilities and equity Total liabilities and equity Liabilities and equity: Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Current liabilities: Long-term debt Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest equity Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distribution of noncontrolling interest Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net income attributable to World Fuel Net income attributable to World Fuel Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling Interest Equity Total non-operating expenses, net Total non-operating expenses, net Non-operating expenses, net: Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating expenses: Income from operations Income from operations Other assets Foreign currency translation adjustment Change in effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of income tax expense of $380 Change in effective portion of cash flow hedges, income tax expense Other expense (income), net Other expense (income), net Total World Fuel Shareholders' Equity Cost of common stock that relate to the purchase of stock tendered by employees to exercise share-based payment awards and satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards. Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock to Satisfy Employee Tax Withholding Obligations Purchases of stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards Payments of senior revolving credit facility loan costs Payments of senior revolving credit facility loan costs Dividends paid on common stock Dividends paid on common stock Distribution of noncontrolling interest Distribution of noncontrolling interest Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of short-term investments Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, issued Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 100 shares authorized, none issued Includes the sum of the amounts paid in advance for costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event and current assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations." The change will appear on your next Reviewers Guide. Prepaid expenses and other current assets Proceeds from sale of equity shares, net of expenses Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments Proceeds from exercise of stock options Net income Net income including noncontrolling interest Net income including noncontrolling interest Property and equipment, net Provision for bad debt Repayments of debt other than senior revolving credit facility Repayments of debt other than senior revolving credit facility Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Retained Earnings Revenue Business Segments Share-based payment award compensation costs Number of shares of common stock that relate to the purchase of stock tendered by employees to exercise share-based payment awards and satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards. Purchases of stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards (in shares) Cost of common stock that relate to the purchase of stock tendered by employees to exercise share-based payment awards and satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards. Purchases of stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards Purchases of stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to share-based payment awards Short-term investments Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total World Fuel shareholders' equity World Fuel shareholders' equity: Total equity Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total equity Equity: Shareholders' Equity Public offering of shares (in shares) Issuance of shares related to share-based payment awards including income tax benefit of $6,152 in 2010 and $0 in 2009 (in shares) Public offering of shares Issuance of shares related to share-based payment awards including income tax benefit of $6,152 in 2010 and $0 in 2009 Trading Symbol Diluted weighted average common shares Basic weighted average common shares