No definition available.

Name:	paa_PartnersCapitalAndDistributionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	paa_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from a noncontrolling interest. Includes, but is not limited to, purchase of additional shares or other increase in noncontrolling interest ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=paa_PlainsAapLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=paa_RedRiverPipelineCompanyLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=paa_DelekLogisticsPartnersLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=paa_CommonUnitsAndSeriesAPreferredUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=paa_PlainsAllAmericanPipelineLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=paa_SeriesBPreferredUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=paa_DelekLogisticsPartnersLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionsMadeToMemberOrLimitedPartnerByDistributionTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashDistributionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=paa_RedRiverPipelineCompanyLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Partners' Capital and Distributions - Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Amount received for sale of noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary		$ 128
AAP
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (percent)		27.00%
Red River LLC
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (percent)		33.00%
Red River LLC \| Delek
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Amount received for sale of noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary	$ 128
Common Units and Series A Preferred Units \| PAA
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (percent)		68.00%
Series B Preferred Units \| PAA
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (percent)		100.00%
Delek \| Red River LLC
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (percent)	33.00%	33.00%
Cash Distribution \| Red River LLC
Partners' Capital and Distributions
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		$ 4