Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VII LP
Entity Central Index Key	0001019542
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Units Outstanding		14,985,550