Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 25, 2012	Mar. 24, 2012
Amended Credit Agreement Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commitment to provide the partnership with incremental term loan facility	$ 250,000
Revolving credit facility current borrowing capacity	250,000
Commitment to increase revolving credit facility amount, maximum	400,000	250,000
Inergy Propane LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total acquisition value	1,800,000
Newly issued senior notes to Inergy bondholders as a part of an acquisition	1,000,000
Partial cash payment as a part of an acquisition	200,000
New common units issued as a part of an acquisition	$ 600,000

Commitment to provide partnership with incremental term loan facility.

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- Definition

Newly issued senior notes to bondholders as a part of an acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

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-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph f(1)

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- Definition

The acquisition-date fair value of the equity interests of the acquirer, including the number of instruments or interests issued or issuable in consideration for the business combination.

+ References

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

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph f(4)

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-Publisher FASB

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-Paragraph 51

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 88-16

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- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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-Topic 210

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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