Consolidated Statement of Changes in Partners' Capital and Redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities (USD $) In Millions	Total USD ($)	Common Stock [Member]	Members' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Partners' Capital [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	Partners' Capital Appropriated for Consolidated Funds [Member] USD ($)	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities [Member] USD ($)	Non-controlling Interests in Carlyle Holdings [Member] USD ($)	Redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities [Member] USD ($)
Partners' Capital, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 713.6		$ 448.5		$ (11.0)		$ 276.1
Common Units, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009
Acquisition of CLOs	1,213.3					1,213.3
Acquisition of CLOs, Units
Acquisition of hedge funds									694.0
Acquisition of hedge funds, Units
Equity issued for affiliate debt financing	214.0		214.0
Equity issued for affiliate debt financing, Units
Contributions	104.8		51.7				53.1
Contributions, Units
Distributions	(1,467.5)		(1,310.1)				(157.4)
Distributions, Units
Net income (loss)	1,459.4		1,525.6			(256.6)	190.4
Net income (loss), Units
Currency translation adjustments	(38.2)				(22.7)	(18.2)	2.7
Currency translation adjustments, Units
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments	(0.8)				(0.8)
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments, Units
Partners' Capital, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	2,198.6		929.7		(34.5)	938.5	364.9		694.0
Common Units, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010
Acquisition of CLOs	46.7					46.7
Acquisition of CLOs, Units
Acquisition of AlpInvest and related consolidated fund of funds	8,476.5						8,476.5
Acquisition and initial consolidation of hedge funds									516.8
Issuance of equity related to acquisitions	18.3		18.3
Contributions	398.9		15.1				383.8		962.5
Contributions, Units
Distributions	(2,542.8)		(1,446.9)				(1,095.9)		(335.3)
Distributions, Units
Net income (loss)	1,154.3
Net income (loss)	1,068.9		1,356.9			(126.4)	(161.6)		85.4
Net income (loss), Units
Currency translation adjustments	(499.2)				(22.6)	(5.1)	(471.5)
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments	1.3				1.3
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments, Units
Partners' Capital, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	9,167.2		873.1		(55.8)	853.7	7,496.2		1,923.4
Common Units, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011
Acquisition of CLOs	357.3					357.3
Acquisition of CLOs, Units
Contributions	362.4		9.3			12.4	340.7		719.1
Contributions, Units
Distributions	(1,472.4)		(658.5)				(813.9)		(114.8)
Distributions, Units
Net income (loss)	1,535.7		532.7			47.5	955.5		(20.8)
Net income (loss), Units
Currency translation adjustments	(169.8)				2.3	(4.1)	(168.0)
Currency translation adjustments, Units
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments	(2.2)				(2.2)
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments, Units
Contribution of equity interests in general partners of carry funds (see Note 1)	261.1		261.1
Contribution of equity interests in general partners of carry funds, Units
Reorganization of beneficial interests in investments (see Note 1)			(64.1)				64.1
Reorganization of beneficial interests in investments, Units
Reorganization of carried interest rights of retired senior Carlyle professionals (see Note 1)			(56.2)				56.2
Reorganization of carried interest rights of retired senior Carlyle professionals, Units
Exchange of interests for Carlyle Holdings units (see Note 1)			(897.4)		55.7			841.7
Exchange of units for Carlyle Holdings units
Partners' Capital, Ending Balance at May. 08, 2012	10,039.3					1,266.8	7,930.8	841.7	2,506.9
Common Units, Ending Balance at May. 08, 2012
Partners' Capital, Beginning Balance at May. 09, 2012
Issuance of common units in initial public offering, net of issuance costs (see Note 1)	615.8			615.8
Issuance of common units in initial public offering, net of issuance costs, Units (see Note 1)		30.5
Deferred tax effects resulting from acquisition and exchange of interests in Carlyle Holdings (see Note 1)	(9.4)			(9.4)
Deferred tax effects resulting from acquisition and exchange of interests in Carlyle Holdings, Units (see Note 1)
Dilution assumed with IPO				(469.8)				469.8
CalPERS equity exchange	6.8			70.1	(2.3)			(61.0)
CalPERS equity exchange, Units		12.7
Initial consolidation of a Consolidated Fund	5.0						5.0
Contributions	377.0						377.0		723.2
Contributions, Units
Distributions	(1,213.1)			(11.7)			(1,104.8)	(96.6)	(354.5)
Distributions, Units
Net income (loss)	872.8			20.3		(424.1)	1,186.8	89.8	11.8
Net income (loss), Units
Equity-based compensation	139.7			19.8				119.9
Equity-based compensation, Units
Issuance of Carlyle Holdings partnership units	13.1							13.1
Currency translation adjustments	(138.4)				(1.0)	(4.1)	(127.6)	(5.7)
Currency translation adjustments, Units
Defined benefit plans, net	(12.3)				(1.4)		(2.4)	(8.5)
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments	(0.9)				(0.1)			(0.8)
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge instruments, Units
Partners' Capital, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 10,695.4			$ 235.1	$ (4.8)	$ 838.6	$ 8,264.8	$ 1,361.7	$ 2,887.4
Common Units, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		43.2