Reconciliation of Weighted Average Number of LP Units Used in Basic and Diluted Earnings Per LP Unit Calculations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	$ 59,687	[1]	$ (109,700)	[1]	$ 92,021	[1]	$ 66,493	[1]	$ 8,362	[2]	$ 11,941	[2]	$ 11,507	[2]	$ 11,270	[2]	$ 108,501	[1]	$ 43,080	[2]	$ 49,594
Basic:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic																	90,423		26,016		19,952
Earnings per unit-basic									0.19	[3]	0.60	[3]	0.58	[3]	0.56	[3]	1.20		1.66	[3]	2.49
Diluted:
Dilutive effect of LP Unit options and LTIP awards granted																	349		70
Weighted average units outstanding-diluted																	90,772		26,086		19,952
Earnings per unit-diluted									0.19	[3]	0.60	[3]	0.58	[3]	0.56	[3]	1.20		1.65	[3]	2.49
Common Units
Basic:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic																	90,423		25,627		19,578
Management Units
Basic:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic																			389		374

[1] The second quarter of 2011 includes a gain of $34.1 million, and the fourth quarter of 2011 includes subsequent dividend income of $0.6 million related to the sale of our equity interest in WT LPG (see Note 3). The third quarter of 2011 includes a $169.6 million goodwill impairment expense associated with the Natural Gas Storage segment (see Note 9).

[2] The fourth quarter of 2010 includes $21.1 million of non-cash compensation expense related to the modification of an equity compensation plan (see Note 18).

[3] Historical per unit amounts have been restated for the reverse unit split. Pursuant to the Merger, BGH's unitholders received a total of approximately 20.0 million of Buckeye's LP Units in the aggregate in exchange for all outstanding BGH common units and management units. As a result, the number of Buckeye's LP Units outstanding increased from 51.6 million to 71.4 million. However, for historical reporting purposes, the impact of this change was accounted for as a reverse split of BGH's units of 0.705 to 1.0, together with the addition of Buckeye's existing LP Units. Therefore, since BGH was the surviving accounting entity, the weighted average number of LP Units outstanding used for basic and diluted earnings per LP Unit calculations are BGH's historical weighted average common units outstanding adjusted for the reverse unit split and the addition of Buckeye's existing LP Units. The sum of the per LP Unit amounts per quarter does not equal the amount presented for the year ended December 31, 2010 due to the effect of the Merger on the weighted average units outstanding calculation.