Net (Loss) Income Per Limited Partner Unit (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands					1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2016 $ / shares	Jul. 27, 2016 $ / shares	Apr. 26, 2016 $ / shares	Jun. 11, 2015 shares	Oct. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2015 shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit
Repurchased units not deemed outstanding | shares							462,161		462,161		488,719
Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP							$ (119,551)	$ 8,212	$ (133,885)	$ 45,845
Declared distribution							15,829	26,650	47,487	76,230
Assumed allocation of undistributed net (loss) income							(135,380)	(18,438)	(181,372)	(30,385)
Assumed allocation of net (loss) income							$ (119,551)	$ 8,212	$ (133,885)	$ 45,845
Denominator:
Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding | shares							33,531,000	33,531,000	33,522,000	31,733,000
Diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding | shares							33,531,000	33,653,000	33,522,000	31,909,000
Basic net (loss) income per limited partner unit | $ / shares							$ (3.54)	$ 0.16	$ (3.97)	$ 1.20
Diluted net (loss) income per limited partner unit | $ / shares							$ (3.54)	$ 0.16	$ (3.97)	$ 1.20
Number of common units sold | shares				3,000,000		3,000,000
General partner interest (as a percent)							0.67%	0.67%	0.67%
Weighted average General Partner interest (as a percent)										0.73
Quarterly cash distribution declared (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares		$ 0.4625	$ 0.4625		$ 0.4625
Subsequent event
Denominator:
Quarterly cash distribution declared (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 0.4625
Common Unitholders
Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit
Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP							$ (118,750)	$ 5,380	$ (132,988)	$ 38,163
Declared distribution							15,723	23,713	47,169	68,332
Assumed allocation of undistributed net (loss) income							(134,473)	(18,333)	(180,157)	(30,169)
Assumed allocation of net (loss) income							$ (118,750)	$ 5,380	$ (132,988)	$ 38,163
Denominator:
Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding | shares							33,531,000	33,531,000	33,522,000	31,733,000
Dilutive effect of phantom units | shares								122,000		176,000
Diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding | shares							33,531,000	33,653,000	33,522,000	31,909,000
Basic net (loss) income per limited partner unit | $ / shares							$ (3.54)	$ 0.16	$ (3.97)	$ 1.20
Diluted net (loss) income per limited partner unit | $ / shares							$ (3.54)	$ 0.16	$ (3.97)	$ 1.20
General Partner
Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit
Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP							$ (801)	$ 2,832	$ (897)	$ 7,682
Declared distribution							106	160	318	476
Assumed allocation of undistributed net (loss) income							(907)	(105)	(1,215)	(216)
Assumed allocation of net (loss) income							$ (801)	55	$ (897)	260
Denominator:
General partner interest (as a percent)									0.67%
IDRs
Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit
Declared distribution								2,777		7,422
Assumed allocation of net (loss) income								$ 2,777		$ 7,422