Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues
Fund management fees									$ 1,085.2	$ 1,166.3	$ 984.6
Performance fees
Realized									1,441.9	1,328.7	1,176.7
Unrealized									(617.0)	345.7	1,198.6
Total performance fees									824.9	1,674.4	2,375.3
Investment income (loss)
Realized									32.9	23.7	14.4
Unrealized									(17.7)	(30.9)	4.4
Total investment income (loss)									15.2	(7.2)	18.8
Interest and other income									18.6	20.6	11.9
Interest and other income of Consolidated Funds									975.5	956.0	1,043.1
Revenue of a consolidated real estate VIE									86.8	70.2	7.5
Total revenues	$ 715.8	$ 297.5	$ 856.1	$ 1,136.8	$ 839.1	$ 755.0	$ 1,138.8	$ 1,147.4	3,006.2	3,880.3	4,441.2
Compensation and benefits
Base compensation									632.2	789.0	738.0
Equity-based compensation									378.0	344.0	322.4
Performance fee related
Realized									650.5	590.7	539.2
Unrealized									(139.6)	282.2	644.5
Total compensation and benefits									1,521.1	2,005.9	2,244.1
General, administrative and other expenses									712.8	526.8	496.4
Interest									58.0	55.7	45.5
Interest and other expenses of Consolidated Funds									1,039.3	1,042.0	890.6
Interest and other expenses of a consolidated real estate VIE									144.6	175.3	33.8
Other non-operating income									(7.4)	(30.3)	(16.5)
Total expenses	802.5	795.3	843.6	1,027.0	928.7	705.1	1,042.6	1,099.0	3,468.4	3,775.4	3,693.9
Other income
Net investment gains of Consolidated Funds	(71.4)	(31.3)	461.6	505.5	(107.5)	125.5	445.0	424.0	864.4	887.0	696.7
Income before provision for income taxes	(158.1)	(529.1)	474.1	615.3	(197.1)	175.4	541.2	472.4	402.2	991.9	1,444.0
Provision for income taxes									2.1	76.8	96.2
Net income	(147.8)	(525.0)	468.1	604.8	(210.0)	181.3	487.4	456.4	400.1	915.1	1,347.8
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities									537.9	485.5	676.0
Net income (loss) attributable to Carlyle Holdings									(137.8)	429.6	671.8
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in Carlyle Holdings									(119.4)	343.8	567.7
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.	$ (4.6)	$ (83.9)	$ 30.6	$ 39.5	$ 16.3	$ 25.4	$ 19.5	$ 24.6	$ (18.4)	$ 85.8	$ 104.1
Net income (loss) attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P. per common unit (see Note 15)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (1.05)	$ 0.42	$ 0.58	$ 0.24	$ 0.38	$ 0.30	$ 0.46	$ (0.24)	$ 1.35	$ 2.24
Diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	(1.11)	0.34	0.54	0.23	0.35	0.27	0.41	$ (0.30)	$ 1.23	$ 2.05
Weighted-average common units
Basic (in shares)									74,523,935	62,788,634	46,135,229
Diluted (in shares)									298,739,382	68,461,157	278,250,489
Distributions declared per common unit (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.89	$ 0.33	$ 1.61	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 1.40	$ 3.39	$ 1.88	$ 1.33