Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	$ 5,344.3		$ 5,255.1
Accumulated Amortization	(1,607.9)		(1,564.8)
Carrying Value	3,736.4		3,690.3
Amortization expense	43.1	$ 41.0
Forecasted amortization expense [Abstract]
Remainder of 2018	122.5
2019	151.4
2020	140.5
2021	148.1
2022	144.3
NGL Pipelines & Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	817.4		728.2
Accumulated Amortization	(413.0)		(405.9)
Carrying Value	404.4		322.3
Amortization expense	7.1	7.3
NGL Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Customer relationship intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	457.8		447.4
Accumulated Amortization	(191.1)		(187.5)
Carrying Value	266.7		259.9
NGL Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Contract-based intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	359.6		280.8
Accumulated Amortization	(221.9)		(218.4)
Carrying Value	137.7		62.4
Crude Oil Pipelines & Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	2,484.5		2,484.5
Accumulated Amortization	(322.0)		(298.0)
Carrying Value	2,162.5		2,186.5
Amortization expense	24.0	23.1
Crude Oil Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Customer relationship intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	2,203.5		2,203.5
Accumulated Amortization	(139.5)		(127.0)
Carrying Value	2,064.0		2,076.5
Crude Oil Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Contract-based intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	281.0		281.0
Accumulated Amortization	(182.5)		(171.0)
Carrying Value	98.5		110.0
Natural Gas Pipelines & Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	1,815.0		1,815.0
Accumulated Amortization	(806.3)		(796.6)
Carrying Value	1,008.7		1,018.4
Amortization expense	9.7	8.2
Natural Gas Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Customer relationship intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	1,350.3		1,350.3
Accumulated Amortization	(424.7)		(417.1)
Carrying Value	925.6		933.2
Natural Gas Pipelines & Services [Member] \| Contract-based intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	464.7		464.7
Accumulated Amortization	(381.6)		(379.5)
Carrying Value	83.1		85.2
Petrochemical & Refined Products Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	227.4		227.4
Accumulated Amortization	(66.6)		(64.3)
Carrying Value	160.8		163.1
Amortization expense	2.3	$ 2.4
Petrochemical & Refined Products Services [Member] \| Customer relationship intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	181.4		181.4
Accumulated Amortization	(47.4)		(45.9)
Carrying Value	134.0		135.5
Petrochemical & Refined Products Services [Member] \| Contract-based intangibles [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Value	46.0		46.0
Accumulated Amortization	(19.2)		(18.4)
Carrying Value	$ 26.8		$ 27.6

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwillAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=epd_NglPipelinesAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ContractualRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=epd_OnshoreCrudeOilPipelinesAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=epd_OnshoreNaturalGasPipelinesAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=epd_PetrochemicalAndRefinedProductsServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: