EARNINGS PER UNIT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
EARNINGS PER UNIT
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	$ 77,254	$ 85,116	$ 243,025	$ 191,454
Basic:
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	106,223	97,993	105,068	97,017
Earnings per unit - basic	$ 0.73	$ 0.87	$ 2.31	$ 1.97
Diluted:
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	106,223	97,993	105,068	97,017
Dilutive effect of LP Unit options and LTIP awards granted	551	349	448	323
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	106,774	98,342	105,516	97,340
Earnings per unit - diluted	$ 0.72	$ 0.87	$ 2.30	$ 1.97

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Per unit of ownership amount after tax of income (loss) available to limited partnership (LP) unit-holder and units that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of limited partner units for dilutive potential units outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section F

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Per unit of ownership amount after tax of income (loss) available to outstanding limited partnership (LP) unit-holder.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that general partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Used in the calculation of diluted net income or loss per limited partnership unit.

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The sum of dilutive potential limited partnership units used in the calculation of the diluted per-unit computation.

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