Equity and Distributions, Issuances of Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 EPCO and affiliates [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	May 31, 2013 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] EPCO and affiliates [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] EPCO and affiliates [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Shelf Registration 2010 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Shelf Registration 2010 [Member]	May 08, 2013 2012 At-the-Market Registration [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 2012 At-the-Market Registration [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance													$ 1,000
Remaining units available for issuance												743.6
Maximum common units authorized for issuance (in units)				70,000,000				440,879
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)				22,249,932				264,167
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)				1,243,360	667,095		473,188	31,869	24,841	9,200,000
Over-allotment of common units included in offering (in units)										1,200,000
Offering price of common unit (in dollars per share)										$ 54.56
Net cash proceeds from issuance of common units	554.1	32.8		65.7	31.8	25.0	25.0	1.8	1.2	486.6
Senior notes issued under universal shelf registration											$ 2,250
Percentage of Total Units Outstanding (in hundredths)			37.10%