Equity and Distributions, Issuances of Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2019
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Common units issued in connection with acquisition of Oiltanking (in units)					54,807,352
Limited partner interests of Oiltanking acquired					65.90%
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		$ 538.4	$ 1,073.4	$ 2,542.8
Common units issued in connection with employee compensation (in units)		1,443,586	1,176,103
Common units issued in connection with employee compensation		$ 39.1	$ 33.7
Treasury Units:
Total of common units repurchased under a buyback program (in units)		1,236,800
Common units acquired in connection with buyback program		$ 30.8
Acquisition of treasury units in connection with vesting of equity-based awards (in units)		1,037,522	1,027,798	1,000,619
Phantom Unit Awards [Member]
Treasury Units:
Phantom units vesting during the period (in units)		3,479,958	2,490,081	1,761,455
Treasury Units [Member]
Treasury Units:
Maximum common units authorized for repurchase under a buyback program (in units)		4,000,000
Total of common units repurchased under a buyback program (in units)		1,236,800
Common units acquired in connection with buyback program		$ 30.8
Average price of treasury units acquired under buyback program (dollars per unit)		$ 24.92
Acquisition of treasury units in connection with vesting of equity-based awards (in units)		1,037,522
Common units acquired in connection with phantom unit awards		$ 27.3
Treasury Units [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Treasury Units:
Amount authorized under buyback program						$ 2,000.0
Junior Debt Obligations [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Debt issued under universal shelf registration		700.0	$ 1,700.0
Universal Shelf Registration [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Debt issued under universal shelf registration		5,700.0
Universal Shelf Registration [Member] | Senior Debt Obligations [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Debt issued under universal shelf registration				$ 1,250.0
Universal Shelf Registration [Member] | Junior Debt Obligations [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Debt issued under universal shelf registration			$ 1,700.0
At-the-Market Registration [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance		2,540.0
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)			21,807,726	87,867,037
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units			$ 603.1	$ 2,170.0
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units			$ 597.0	$ 2,160.0
Remaining units available for issuance		$ 2,540.0
At-the-Market Registration [Member] | EPCO and its privately held affiliates [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)				3,830,256
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units				$ 100.0
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)		19,316,781	18,541,355	15,809,503
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		$ 523.3	$ 462.9	$ 374.0
Distribution reinvestment plan discount rate		2.50%
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)		61,400,359
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Distribution reinvestment plan discount rate	0.00%
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Distribution reinvestment plan discount rate range		0.00%
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Distribution reinvestment plan discount rate range		5.00%
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] | EPCO and its privately held affiliates [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units		$ 213.0	100.0	100.0
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		$ 213.0	$ 100.0	$ 100.0
Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)		545,170	504,664	507,031
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		$ 15.1	$ 13.5	$ 12.7
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)		5,215,641