Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information. Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Type Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Class Of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class Of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Common Class B [Member] Assets [Abstract] Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents, At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Inventory, Net Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Prepaid Expense, Current Prepaid expenses Prepaid Expense, Current, Total Other Assets, Current Other current assets Other current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Deferred Finance Costs, Noncurrent, Net Debt issuance costs, net Deferred Finance Costs, Noncurrent, Net, Total Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Other assets Assets Total assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and equity Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Long Term Debt Excluding Notes Issued Under Tax Increment Financing Current Current portion of long-term debt Total of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt, which may include bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans, and commercial paper, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any but excludes notes issued under tax increment financing. Tax Increment Financing, Current Current portion of tax increment financing Total of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of tax increment financing debt, which includes tax increment noter, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long Term Debt Excluding Notes Issued Under Tax Increment Financing Noncurrent Long-term debt, net of current portion Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, excluding notes issued under tax increment financing, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. Tax Increment Financing, Noncurrent Tax increment financing, net of current portion Total of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of tax increment financing debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other non-current liabilities Other non-current liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies Stockholders Equity, Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Equity Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5.0 million shares authorized and no shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock Treasury Stock, Value Less common stock held in treasury, at cost, 809,606 shares at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Less common stock held in treasury, at cost, 809,606 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 Additional Paid In Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Stockholders Equity Attributable To Parent Total BioFuel Energy Corp. stockholders' equity Total BioFuel Energy Corp. stockholders' equity Stockholders Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders Equity, Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Total equity Total equity Balance Balance Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Total liabilities and equity Total liabilities and equity Balance Sheets Parenthetical [Abstract] Balance Sheets Parenthetical [Abstract] Balance Sheets Parenthetical. Preferred Stock, Par Or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Net sales Sales Revenue, Goods, Net, Total Cost Of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold Cost of goods sold Gross Profit Gross loss Gross loss General and Administrative Expense [Abstract] General and administrative expenses: Labor and Related Expense Compensation expense Labor and Related Expense, Total Compensation expense Other General and Administrative Expense Other Other Other Operating Income (Loss) Operating loss Operating loss Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): Interest Expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Interest expense Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects Of Changes In Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Loss before income taxes Loss before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax provision (benefit) Income tax provision (benefit) Net Loss Net loss Net loss Net loss Net Income (Loss) Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable To Parent Net loss attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders Net loss attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Loss per share - basic and diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common stockholders (in dollar per share) Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Basic and Diluted Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares) The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted EPS. Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Common Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Parent [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Shares, Outstanding Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues One Sale of common stock, net of expenses Equity impact of the value of new stock issued during the period. Includes shares issued in an initial public offering or a secondary public offering. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues One Sale of common stock, net of expenses (in shares) Number of new stock issued during the period. Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Two Sale of Class B stock, net of expenses Equity impact of the value of new stock issued during the period. Includes shares issued in an initial public offering or a secondary public offering. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Two Sale of Class B stock, net of expenses (in shares) Number of new stock issued during the period. Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion Of Convertible Securities, Net Of Adjustments Issuance of common stock in exchange for debt Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion Of Convertible Securities Issuance of common stock in exchange for debt (in shares) Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital, Share-Based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation Stock Issued During Period, Value, Exchange Of Class B Shares Exchange of Class B shares to common Value of stock issued during the period upon the conversion of Class B shares held by the historical equity investors of the LLC. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Exchange Of Class B Shares Exchange of Class B shares to common (in shares) Number of shares issued during the period upon the conversion of Class B shares held by the historical equity investors of the LLC. Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net Of Forfeitures Issuance of restricted stock, (net of forfeitures) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures, Total Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net Of Forfeitures Issuance of restricted stock, (net of forfeitures) (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures, Total Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income (Loss) To Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Increase (Decrease) In Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) In Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) In Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Inventories Increase (Decrease) In Prepaid Expense Prepaid expenses Prepaid expenses Increase (Decrease) In Accounts Payable, Trade Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) In Other Current Liabilities Other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) In Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Other assets and liabilities Other assets and liabilities Other assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities Payments To Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock Proceeds from sale of stock Repayments Of Debt Excluding Tax Increment Financing Repayment of debt The cash outflow for debt ,excluding tax increment financing for notes issue, initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Repayment of debt Repayments Of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Repayment of notes payable and capital leases Repayment of notes payable and capital leases Payments Of Stock Issuance Costs Payment of equity offering costs Payment of equity offering costs Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs Payment of debt issuance costs Payment of debt issuance costs Payment of debt issuance costs Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Income Taxes Paid Cash paid for income taxes Interest Paid Cash paid for interest Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Non-cash investing and financing activities: Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition, Fixed Assets Acquired Additions to property, plant and equipment unpaid during period Issuance Of Common Stock In Exchange For Debt Issuance of common stock in exchange for debt The amount of common stock issued in exchange for debt under noncash investing and financing activities during the reporting period. Organization, Nature of Business, and Liquidity Considerations [Abstract] Organization, Nature of Business, and Liquidity Considerations [Abstract] Organization, Nature of Business, and Liquidity Considerations [Text Block] Organization, Nature of Business, and Liquidity Considerations [Text Block] The entire disclosure for organization, nature of business, and liquidity considerations. Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt [Abstract] Long Term Debt Excluding Tax Increment Financing [Text Block] Long Term Debt Excluding Tax Increment Financing [Text Block] This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure for long-term borrowings including data and tables and excluding tax increment financing. Tax Increment Financing [Abstract] Tax Increment Financing [Abstract] Tax Increment Financing [Text Block] Tax Increment Financing [Text Block] Tax increment financing is a method to use future gains in taxes to finance current improvements. When a development or public project is carried out, there is often an increase in the value of surrounding real estate, and perhaps new investment (new or rehabilitated buildings, for example).This increased site value and investment sometimes generates increased tax revenues. The increased tax revenues are the "tax increment". Tax increment financing dedicates tax increments within a certain defined district to finance debt issued to pay for the project. Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs, Share-Based Payments [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract] Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Comprehensive Income, Net Of Tax, Attributable To Parent [Abstract] Comprehensive loss: Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding