SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation	Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NuStar GP Holdings and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, management reviews their estimates based on currently available information. Management may revise estimates due to changes in facts and circumstances.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents are all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when acquired.
Investment in NuStar Energy	Investment in NuStar Energy We account for our investment in NuStar Energy using the equity method. As the general partner, we exercise significant influence over NuStar Energy. We evaluate our investment in NuStar Energy for impairment when there is evidence that we may not be able to recover the carrying amount of our investment or that the investee is unable to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount. If a decline in the value of our investment is determined to be other than temporary, then we would record an impairment loss in the current period based on the difference between the estimated current fair value of the investment and our carrying amount. We believe that the carrying amount of our investment in NuStar Energy as of December 31, 2016 is recoverable.
Accounting for Issuances of Units by NuStar Energy	Accounting for Issuances of Units by NuStar Energy We account for issuances of common units by NuStar Energy as if we had sold a proportionate share of our investment, such that we record any gain or loss in earnings.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We are a limited liability company taxed as a partnership and generally are not subject to federal or state income taxes. Accordingly, our taxable income or loss, which may vary substantially from income or loss reported for financial reporting purposes, is generally included in the federal and state income tax returns of our unitholders. For transfers of publicly held units subsequent to our initial public offering, we have made an election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) to adjust the common unit purchaser’s tax basis in our underlying assets to reflect the purchase price of the units. This results in an allocation of taxable income and expenses to the purchaser of the common units, including depreciation deductions and gains and losses on sales of assets, based upon the new unitholder’s purchase price for the common units. On August 14, 2006, NuStar GP, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, elected to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3(a). We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred taxes using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Income tax expense includes federal and state income and withholding taxes currently payable and deferred federal and state income taxes resulting from temporary differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities when such differences exist. We, or certain of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, tax years subject to examination are 2012 through 2015, according to standard statutes of limitations. We recognize a tax position if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained, based on the technical merits of the position, upon examination. We record uncertain tax positions in the financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Unit-Based Compensation	Unit-Based Compensation We account for awards of NSH restricted units and unit options granted to employees of NuStar GP, LLC and our directors based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. The fair value of NSH unit options is determined using the Black-Scholes model at the grant date, and the fair value of the NSH restricted units equals the market price of NSH common units at the grant date. Compensation expense for NSH restricted units and unit options is recognized ratably over the vesting period based on the initial fair value determination, and is included in “General and administrative expenses” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Prior to the Employee Transfer, we accounted for awards of NS unit options, performance units and restricted units to employees and directors of NuStar GP, LLC and its affiliates at fair value, whereby a liability for the award was initially recorded and subsequent changes in the fair value were included in the determination of net income. The fair value of NS unit options was determined using the Black-Scholes model at each reporting date. The fair value of NS restricted units and performance units equaled the market price of NS common units at each reporting date. However, NS performance units were earned only upon NuStar Energy’s achievement of an objective performance measure. We recorded compensation expense each reporting period such that the cumulative compensation expense equaled the portion of the award’s current fair value that had vested. We recorded compensation expense related to NS unit options until such options were exercised, and we recorded compensation expense for NS restricted units and performance units until the date of vesting. The liability for awards of NS unit options, performance units and restricted units were included in “Accrued compensation expense” on our consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2015. Prior to the Employee Transfer, NuStar Energy reimbursed us for the expenses resulting from NS awards and NSH awards to employees providing services to NuStar Energy. Following the Employee Transfer, NuStar Energy retains the expenses resulting from NS awards and we retain the expenses resulting from NSH awards. Distribution Equivalent Rights (DERs) paid with respect to outstanding, unvested NS units were expensed, whereas DERs with respect to outstanding, unvested NSH restricted units reduce equity, similar to cash distributions to unitholders. Forfeitures of our unit-based awards are recognized as an adjustment to compensation expense when they occur. Under these long-term incentive plans, certain awards provide that the grantee’s award vests immediately upon retirement. Compensation expense is recognized immediately if these awards are granted to retirement-eligible employees, as defined in each award. In addition, if, during a vesting period of a grant, the grantee will become retirement-eligible, then compensation expense associated with the grant is recognized from the grant date through the grantee’s retirement eligibility date.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain previously reported amounts in the 2015 consolidated financial statements and notes have been reclassified to conform to 2016 presentation.

Disclosure of accounting policy for cash and cash equivalents, including the policy for determining which items are treated as cash equivalents. Other information that may be disclosed includes (1) the nature of any restrictions on the entity's use of its cash and cash equivalents, (2) whether the entity's cash and cash equivalents are insured or expose the entity to credit risk, (3) the classification of any negative balance accounts (overdrafts), and (4) the carrying basis of cash equivalents (for example, at cost) and whether the carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock or other interests including unconsolidated subsidiaries, corporate joint ventures, noncontrolling interests in real estate ventures, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. The accounting policy may include information such as: (1) initially recording an investment in the stock of an investee at cost; (2) adjusting the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses of the investee after the date of acquisition; and (3) adjustments to reflect the investor's share of changes in the investee's capital (dividends). This disclosure may also include a detailed description of the policy for determining the amount of equity method losses recognized after an investment has been reduced to zero as a result of previous losses, reasons for not using the equity method when the investor company owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock of the investee's company (including identification of the significant investee), reasons for using the equity method when the ownership percentage is less than 20 percent, and discussion of recognition of equity method losses when an investor's total investment in an investee includes, in addition to an investment in common stock, other investments such as preferred stock and loans to the investee. An entity also may describe how such investments are assessed for impairment.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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