Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	ZZHJB
Entity Registrant Name	ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND VIII LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0001069152
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Units Outstanding		13,560,188