Name:	tcp_CombinedGeneralPartnerInterestAndIncentiveDistributionInterestPercentageOfQuarterlyDistributionsOfAvailableCashExceedingTargetLevels
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the target level of quarterly distributions per common unit.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_IncentiveDistributionTargetLevelOfQuarterlyDistributionsPerCommonUnit
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The total amount of cash distributions to limited partners as a percentage of all cash distributions, pursuant to the partnership agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountCashDistributionPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of limited partner units outstanding.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=tcp_LimitedPartnerCommonUnitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=tcp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=tcp_MinimumQuarterlyDistributionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=tcp_FirstTargetDistributionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=tcp_SecondTargetDistributionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: