Earnings Per Common Unit - Weighted-Average Common Units Outstanding, Basic and Diluted (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	78,849,332	66,474,689	72,812,892	61,422,816
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	301,558,908	72,086,875	299,143,320	67,440,601
The Carlyle Group, L.P.
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	78,849,332	66,474,689	72,812,892	61,422,816
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	78,849,332	66,474,689	72,812,892	61,422,816
Unvested deferred restricted common units
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	0	5,146,277	0	5,551,876
Contingently issuable Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, basic (in shares)		0		0
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)		465,909		465,909
Weighted-average vested Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	216,864,271		216,956,438
Unvested Carlyle Holdings Partnership units
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted-average common units outstanding, diluted (in shares)	5,845,305		9,373,990