Represents the number of liquid petroleum products storage capacity with which the entity operates.

No definition available.

Name:	bpl_LiquidPetroleumProductsStorageCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of propane storage caverns.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpl_NumberOfPropaneStorageCaverns
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of refined petroleum products terminals operated.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpl_NumberOfTerminalsOperated
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of refined petroleum products terminals owned.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpl_NumberOfTerminalsOwned
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Continents Operating In

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpl_NumberofContinentsOperatingIn
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Terminals

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bpl_NumberofTerminals
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpl_PipelinesAndTerminalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpl_GlobalMarineTerminalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpl_MerchantServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=bpl_IndianaAndIllinoisMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bpl_VTTIB.V.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=bpl_BuckeyeTexasPartnersLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=bpl_VTTIB.V.Member
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BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, bbl in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017 continent terminal bbl	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) propane_storage	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) terminal segment propane_storage	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of business segments \| segment				3
Depreciation and amortization \| $		$ 65,661	$ 63,472	$ 195,987	$ 188,220
Domestic Pipelines & Terminals
Segment information
Number of terminals operated				3
Global Marine Terminals
Segment information
Number of terminals owned				22
Merchant Services
Segment information
Number of terminals owned				3
Indiana and Illinois \| Domestic Pipelines & Terminals
Segment information
Number of underground propane storage caverns \| propane_storage		2		2
VTTI B.V.
Segment information
Product storage capacity (in bbl) \| bbl	58
Number of terminals	15
Number of continents \| continent	5
Buckeye Texas Partners LLC
Segment information
Ownership percentage		100.00%		100.00%
Depreciation and amortization \| $		$ 18,100	$ 18,500	$ 54,100	$ 52,500
VTTI B.V.
Segment information
Ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%		50.00%