Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Unaudited Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Other Items Net Interest And Other Financial Income [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 755.3	$ 858.5	$ 248.4	$ 1,110.9	$ 831.8	$ (59.6)	$ 755.8	$ 1,317.3		$ 2,973.1	$ 2,845.3	$ 2,798.9
Expenses	660.2	704.9	448.9	477.2	422.2	218.4	345.8	360.7		2,291.2	1,347.1	1,073.8
Other income (loss)	50.4	448.9	386.6	872.1	302.8	(341.2)	(92.7)	(184.3)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	145.5	602.5	186.1	1,505.8	712.4	(619.2)	317.3	772.3		2,439.9	1,182.8	1,479.7
Net income	132.9	597.0	175.5	1,494.1	709.6	(632.1)	310.6	766.2		2,399.5	1,154.3	1,459.4
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.	$ 12.0	$ 18.6	$ (10.3)						$ 20.3	$ 20.3
Basic	$ 0.28	$ 0.43	$ (0.26)						$ 0.48	$ 0.48
Diluted	$ 0.25	$ 0.40	$ (0.26)						$ 0.41	$ 0.41
Distributions declared per common unit	$ 0.16	$ 0.11								$ 0.27