Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 municipality	Dec. 31, 2018 lease	Dec. 31, 2018 railcar	Dec. 31, 2018 non_municipal_public_body	Apr. 02, 2018 barge towboat
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease expense recognized	$ 6,600	$ 9,900	$ 9,000
Year ending Dec. 31,
2019				$ 4,150
2020				3,890
2021				2,789
2022				1,239
2023				1,214
Thereafter				7,235
Total operating lease payments				20,517
Number of lessors					2			1
Cleco Holdings
Year ending Dec. 31,
2019				120
2020				0
2021				0
2022				0
2023				0
Thereafter				0
Total operating lease payments				120
CLECO POWER
Year ending Dec. 31,
2019				4,030
2020				3,890
2021				2,789
2022				1,239
2023				1,214
Thereafter				7,235
Total operating lease payments				$ 20,397
Number of barges | barge									42
CLECO POWER | Utility System
Year ending Dec. 31,
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
CLECO POWER | Utility System 2
Year ending Dec. 31,
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
CLECO POWER | Utility System 3
Year ending Dec. 31,
Term of operating lease (in years)	27 years
CLECO POWER | Railroad Transportation Equipment
Year ending Dec. 31,
Number of railcars | railcar							200
CLECO POWER | Railcars Group 1
Year ending Dec. 31,
Number of railcars | railcar							115
Number of leases expiring on March 31, 2021 | lease						1
CLECO POWER | Railcars Group 2
Year ending Dec. 31,
Number of railcars | railcar							85
Number of leases expiring on March 31, 2020 | lease						1
CLECO POWER | Maritime Equipment
Year ending Dec. 31,
Number of barges | barge									42
Number of towboats | towboat									3