2.2.0.25truefalse0131 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805022instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805022instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_GeneralAndLimitedPartnersCapitalAccountAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseBuckeye Partners, L.P. capital:3false0us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstandingus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse8035450180354501falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7143609971436099falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe number of limited partner units outstanding. The limited partners are partners of a publicly traded limited partnership or master limited partnership. Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Practice Bulletin (PB) -Number 14 -Paragraph 10 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 87-21 falsefalseLimited Partners, units outstanding4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://buckeye.com/role/balancesheetsparenthetical1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis} : Capital Unit Class B [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Capital_Unit_Class_B_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805022instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseClass B Unitsus-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CapitalUnitClassBMemberus-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis} : Capital Unit Class B [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Capital_Unit_Class_B_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805022instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseClass B Unitsus-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CapitalUnitClassBMemberus-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxisexplicitMemberSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseClass B Units5true0us-gaap_GeneralAndLimitedPartnersCapitalAccountAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseBuckeye Partners, L.P. capital:6false0us-gaap_CapitalUnitsOutstandingus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse69157256915725falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of capital units or capital shares outstanding. This element is relevant to issuers of face-amount certificates and registered investment companies.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCapital units, outstanding25Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)UnKnownNoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue