Equity Method Investments, Ownership Percentage Acquired

No definition available.

Name:	bpl_EquityMethodInvestmentsOwnershipPercentageAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	bpl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- 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/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 32
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118954474&loc=d3e32787-111569

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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_DebtInstrumentAxis=bpl_NotesFivePointFivePercentDueAugust2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bpl_TermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bpl_PipelinesAndTerminalsMember
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:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=bpl_IndianaAndIllinoisMember
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:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=bpl_VTTIB.V.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=bpl_BuckeyeTexasPartnersLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) propane_storage	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) propane_storage	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) terminal segment propane_storage	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017
Segment information
Number of business segments \| segment							3
Depreciation and amortization					$ 66,896	$ 68,464	$ 196,639	$ 199,171
5.500% Notes Due August 2019
Segment information
Principal amount repaid		$ 275,000
Interest rate percentage		5.50%
Term Loan
Segment information
Principal amount repaid			$ 250,000
Domestic Pipelines & Terminals
Segment information
Number of terminals operated \| terminal							3
Merchant Services
Segment information
Number of terminals owned \| terminal							3
Indiana and Illinois \| Domestic Pipelines & Terminals
Segment information
Number of underground propane storage caverns \| propane_storage	2				2		2
Buckeye Texas Partners LLC
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization								$ 54,500
VTTI B.V.
Segment information
Ownership percentage									50.00%
Non-cash loss on write-down of investment in VTTI B.V.	$ (300,300)					$ (300,300)
Buckeye Texas Partners LLC
Segment information
Ownership interest acquired				20.00%
Ownership percentage	100.00%				100.00%		100.00%