Supp Guarantor Cond Cons Fin Stmts - B/S (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 14,943	$ 1,116	$ 765	$ 5,238
Accounts receivable, net	281,008	311,354
Accounts receivable-affiliates	2,335	2,578
Inventories	438,254	388,952
Brokerage margin deposits	18,681	31,327
Derivate assets	24,563	66,099
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	73,665	65,609
Total current assets	853,449	867,035
Property and equipment, net	1,128,765	1,242,683
Intangible assets, net	67,586	75,694
Goodwill	299,057	435,369
Other assets	35,663	42,894
Total assets	2,384,520	2,663,675
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	231,241	303,781
Working capital revolving credit facility-current portion	168,000	98,100
Environmental liabilities-current portion	5,329	5,350
Trustee taxes payable	83,883	95,264
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	63,107	60,328
Derivative liabilities	24,491	31,911
Total current liabilities	576,051	594,734
Working capital revolving credit facility-less current portion	150,000	150,000
Revolving credit facility	180,800	269,000
Senior notes	658,497	656,564
Environmental liabilities-less current portion	60,552	67,883
Financing obligation	152,378	89,790
Deferred tax liabilities	72,907	84,836
Other long-term liabilities	55,850	56,884
Total liabilities	1,907,035	1,969,691
Partners' equity
Total Global Partners LP equity	472,164	647,789
Noncontrolling interest	5,321	46,195
Total partners' equity	477,485	693,984
Total liabilities and partners' equity	2,384,520	2,663,675
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		(3,574)
Accounts receivable-affiliates	(420)	(913)
Total current assets	(420)	(4,487)
Total assets	(420)	(4,487)
Current liabilities:
Cash overdraft		(3,574)
Accounts payable - affiliates	(420)	(913)
Total current liabilities	(420)	(4,487)
Total liabilities	(420)	(4,487)
Partners' equity
Total liabilities and partners' equity	(420)	(4,487)
(Issuer) Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	14,408	(3,574)	(5,190)	2,560
Accounts receivable, net	280,857	311,079
Accounts receivable-affiliates	2,423	2,745
Inventories	438,254	388,952
Brokerage margin deposits	18,681	31,327
Derivate assets	24,563	66,099
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	73,412	65,376
Total current assets	852,598	865,578
Property and equipment, net	1,115,951	1,203,251
Intangible assets, net	67,586	75,694
Goodwill	299,057	349,306
Other assets	35,663	42,894
Total assets	2,370,855	2,536,723
Current liabilities:
Cash overdraft		3,574
Accounts payable	230,846	303,242
Accounts payable - affiliates	332	746
Working capital revolving credit facility-current portion	168,000	98,100
Environmental liabilities-current portion	5,329	5,350
Trustee taxes payable	83,883	95,264
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	62,884	59,742
Derivative liabilities	24,491	31,911
Total current liabilities	575,765	597,929
Working capital revolving credit facility-less current portion	150,000	150,000
Revolving credit facility	180,800	269,000
Senior notes	658,497	656,564
Environmental liabilities-less current portion	60,552	67,883
Financing obligation	152,378	89,790
Deferred tax liabilities	72,907	84,836
Other long-term liabilities	55,850	56,884
Total liabilities	1,906,749	1,972,886
Partners' equity
Total Global Partners LP equity	464,106	563,837
Total partners' equity	464,106	563,837
Total liabilities and partners' equity	2,370,855	2,536,723
Non-Guarantor Subsidiary
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	535	4,690	$ 5,955	$ 2,678
Accounts receivable, net	151	275
Accounts receivable-affiliates	332	746
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	253	233
Total current assets	1,271	5,944
Property and equipment, net	12,814	39,432
Goodwill		86,063
Total assets	14,085	131,439
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	395	539
Accounts payable - affiliates	88	167
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	223	586
Total current liabilities	706	1,292
Total liabilities	706	1,292
Partners' equity
Total Global Partners LP equity	8,058	83,952
Noncontrolling interest	5,321	46,195
Total partners' equity	13,379	130,147
Total liabilities and partners' equity	$ 14,085	$ 131,439