Earnings Per Common Unit - Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Unit (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Basic
Net income attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.	$ 57,600,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 140,600,000	$ 14,500,000
Net income attributable to common units	$ 57,600,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 140,600,000	$ 14,500,000
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	88,801,343	81,683,415	87,079,007	81,284,238
Net income per common unit (usd per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.07	$ 1.61	$ 0.18
Diluted
Net income attributable to The Carlyle Group L.P.	$ 57,600,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 140,600,000	$ 14,500,000
Incremental net income from assumed exchange of Carlyle Holdings partnership units		0		13,600,000
Net income attributable to common units	$ 57,600,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 140,600,000	$ 28,100,000
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	96,986,255	85,849,938	94,486,422	304,176,760
Net income per common unit (usd per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.07	$ 1.49	$ 0.09