Supplemental Financial Information - Supplemental Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, 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
Revenues
Fund management fees										$ 977.6	$ 915.5	$ 770.3
Performance fees
Realized										907.5	1,307.4	266.4
Unrealized										133.6	(185.8)	1,215.6
Total performance fees										1,041.1	1,121.6	1,482.0
Investment income
Realized										16.3	65.1	11.9
Unrealized										20.1	13.3	60.7
Total investment income										36.4	78.4	72.6
Interest and other income										14.5	15.8	21.4
Interest and other income of Consolidated Funds										903.5	714.0	452.6
Total 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
Compensation and benefits
Base compensation										624.5	374.5	265.2
Equity-based compensation										201.7
Performance fee related
Realized										285.5	225.7	46.6
Unrealized										32.2	(122.3)	117.2
Total compensation and benefits										1,143.9	477.9	429.0
General, administrative and other expenses										357.5	323.5	177.2
Interest										24.6	60.6	17.8
Interest and other expenses of Consolidated Funds										758.1	453.1	233.3
Other non-operating expenses										7.1	32.0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net of related expenses												2.5
Equity issued for affiliate debt financing												214.0
Total 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
Net investment gains of Consolidated Funds										1,758.0	(323.3)	(245.4)
Gain on acquisition of business											7.9
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
Provision for income taxes										40.4	28.5	20.3
Net income (loss)	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 non-controlling interests in consolidated entities										1,756.7	(202.6)	(66.2)
Net income (loss) attributable to Carlyle Holdings										642.8	1,356.9	1,525.6
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in Carlyle Holdings										622.5
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.	12.0	18.6	(10.3)						20.3	20.3
Consolidated Operating Entities [Member]
Revenues
Fund management fees										1,115.7	1,020.4	813.6
Performance fees
Realized										933.6	1,399.0	275.1
Unrealized										126.6	(237.6)	1,209.7
Total performance fees										1,060.2	1,161.4	1,484.8
Investment income
Realized										31.0	82.7	13.6
Unrealized										19.5	20.4	78.0
Total investment income										50.5	103.1	91.6
Interest and other income										14.5	15.6	22.4
Total revenues										2,240.9	2,300.5	2,412.4
Compensation and benefits
Base compensation										624.5	374.5	265.2
Equity-based compensation										201.7
Performance fee related
Realized										285.5	225.7	46.6
Unrealized										32.2	(122.3)	117.2
Total compensation and benefits										1,143.9	477.9	429.0
General, administrative and other expenses										360.0	323.2	176.6
Interest										24.6	60.6	17.8
Other non-operating expenses										7.1	32.0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net of related expenses												2.5
Equity issued for affiliate debt financing												214.0
Total expenses										1,535.6	893.7	839.9
Other income
Gain on acquisition of business											7.9
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes										705.3	1,414.7	1,572.5
Provision for income taxes										40.4	28.5	20.3
Net income (loss)										664.9	1,386.2	1,552.2
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities										22.1	29.3	26.6
Net income (loss) attributable to Carlyle Holdings										642.8	1,356.9	1,525.6
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in Carlyle Holdings										622.5
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.										20.3
Consolidated Funds [Member]
Investment income
Interest and other income of Consolidated Funds										903.5	714.0	452.6
Total revenues										903.5	714.0	452.6
Performance fee related
Interest and other expenses of Consolidated Funds										923.9	592.2	278.0
Total expenses										923.9	592.2	278.0
Other income
Net investment gains of Consolidated Funds										1,755.5	(330.6)	(251.5)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes										1,735.1	(208.8)	(76.9)
Net income (loss)										1,735.1	(208.8)	(76.9)
Net income (loss) attributable to Carlyle Holdings										1,735.1	(208.8)	(76.9)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.										1,735.1
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues
Fund management fees										(138.1)	(104.9)	(43.3)
Performance fees
Realized										(26.1)	(91.6)	(8.7)
Unrealized										7.0	51.8	5.9
Total performance fees										(19.1)	(39.8)	(2.8)
Investment income
Realized										(14.7)	(17.6)	(1.7)
Unrealized										0.6	(7.1)	(17.3)
Total investment income										(14.1)	(24.7)	(19.0)
Interest and other income											0.2	(1.0)
Total revenues										(171.3)	(169.2)	(66.1)
Performance fee related
General, administrative and other expenses										(2.5)	0.3	0.6
Interest and other expenses of Consolidated Funds										(165.8)	(139.1)	(44.7)
Total expenses										(168.3)	(138.8)	(44.1)
Other income
Net investment gains of Consolidated Funds										2.5	7.3	6.1
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes										(0.5)	(23.1)	(15.9)
Net income (loss)										(0.5)	(23.1)	(15.9)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities										1,734.6	(231.9)	(92.8)
Net income (loss) attributable to Carlyle Holdings										(1,735.1)	208.8	76.9
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.										$ (1,735.1)