Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 14, 2018	Aug. 14, 2018	May 15, 2018	Feb. 14, 2018	Nov. 14, 2017	Aug. 14, 2017	May 15, 2017	Feb. 14, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues from continuing operations	$ 689,296		$ 745,278		$ 752,388		$ 725,808		$ 720,049		$ 486,114		$ 406,723		$ 415,491		$ 2,912,770		$ 2,028,377		$ 1,712,493
Operating income	4,119		46,148		60,900		59,081		63,407		43,100		61,447		52,597		170,248		220,551		206,427
Net income (loss)	(28,927)		(1,634)		10,871		7,898		15,401		6,160		33,580		26,938		(11,792)	[1]	82,079		111,082
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,144		1,311		126		136		111		152		153		152		5,717		568		2,167
Net income (loss) attributable to Genesis Energy, L.P.	$ (24,783)		$ (323)		$ 10,997		$ 8,034		$ 15,512		$ 6,312		$ 33,733		$ 27,090		$ (6,075)		$ 82,647		$ 113,249
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit:
Net income per common unit (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.35)		$ (0.15)		$ (0.05)		$ (0.07)		$ (0.01)		$ 0.01		$ 0.28		$ 0.23
Cash distributions per common unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.5500	[2]	$ 0.5400	[2]	$ 0.5300	[2]	$ 0.5200	[2]	$ 0.5000	[2]	$ 0.7225	[2]	$ 0.7200	[2]	$ 0.7100	[2]	$ 0.5500	[2]	$ 0.5000	[2]		$ 0.5400	$ 0.5300	$ 0.5200	$ 0.5100	$ 0.5000	$ 0.7225	$ 0.7200	$ 0.7100

[1] Net loss includes $69.8 million attributable to preferred unitholders accumulated as of December 31, 2018.

[2] (1)Represents cash distributions declared and paid in the applicable period.