Earnings Per Common Unit - Weighted-Average Common Units Outstanding, Basic and Diluted (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	88,801,343	81,683,415	87,079,007	81,284,238
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	96,986,255	85,849,938	94,486,422	304,176,760
The Carlyle Group L.P.
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	88,801,343	81,683,415	87,079,007	81,284,238
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	88,801,343	81,683,415	87,079,007	81,284,238
Unvested deferred restricted common units
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	7,586,968	4,166,523	6,809,471	2,988,087
Issuable Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	0		0
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	597,944		597,944
Weighted-average vested Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	228,386,148	0	226,541,019	219,634,462
Unvested Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	897,070	0	1,944,401	269,973