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Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Non-current income tax liabilities, net Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent Total amount of income and expense line items excluding the impact of hedges, Revenue Revenue, Excluding Impact Of Hedges Revenue, Excluding Impact Of Hedges Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Gross Amounts without Right of Offset Derivative Liability, Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement Deduction Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Axis] Allowance for credit losses Allowance for credit losses Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Current Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Income Statement Location [Domain] Income Statement Location [Domain] Foreign currency contracts Foreign currency exchange contracts Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] Total debt Long-term Debt and Lease Obligation, Including 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Long-term Debt and Lease Obligation, Current Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] Term Loans Term Loans [Member] Term Loans [Member] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Use of Estimates Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Interest income Investment Income, Interest Effective income tax rate reconciliation, disposition of business amount Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business, Amount Income Tax Authority [Domain] Income Tax Authority [Domain] Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash surrender value of life insurance Investments, Fair Value Disclosure Notional value of commodity contracts (in barrels) Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, 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Pre-assessment notice, amount Income Tax Examination, Penalties Expense 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 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 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 $5.6 and expense of $7.4 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification and Tax 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 (Losses) on fair value hedge relationships: Effect of Fair Value Hedges on Results of Operations [Abstract] Interest expense and other financing costs, net Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs [Member] Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs [Member] Property and equipment, net Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation 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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 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, 63.0 and 62.9 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus 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 Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Current Reporting Status 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] Business combination consideration transferred 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 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification, Tax Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, City or Town 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] 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] Other non-current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Gross profit Gross profit Gross Profit Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Tax Identification Number 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 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures: 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 Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] 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] Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Restructuring charges Restructuring costs Restructuring Charges 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 World Fuel shareholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Offsetting Liabilities [Table] Offsetting Liabilities [Table] Cash surrender value of life insurance Cash Surrender Value [Member] Largest counterparty Largest Counterparty [Member] Largest Counterparty [Member] Danish Tax Authority Danish Tax Authority [Member] Danish Tax Authority [Member] Estimate of possible loss Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Common Stock Common Stock [Member] Gross profit: Gross Profit [Abstract] Estimated tax 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 credit losses Charges to allowance 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 Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Revenue Revenues Revenue Revenues Schedule of Fair Value Positions of Derivative Instruments Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block] Provision for income taxes Income tax provision Provision for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 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 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 Local Phone Number Local Phone Number 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] Interest expense and other financing costs, net Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs Interest Expense And Other Financing Costs Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Emerging Growth Company Gross Derivative Liabilities Gross derivative liabilities Gross Amounts Recognized Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Maximum Maximum [Member] 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] Effective income tax rate 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 Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Net derivative liability positions with credit contingent features Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value 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] Entity Shell Company Entity Shell Company 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 Standards 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]