Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Floor

No definition available.

Name:	iep_DebtInstrumentInterestRateFloor
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Percentage of Aggregate Principal Amount Authorized to be Repurchased at Higher Percenatge of Principal Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfAggregatePrincipalAmountAuthorizedToBeRepurchasedAtHigherPercenatgeOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Percentage of Aggregate Principal Amount Required to Remain Outstanding if Debt Redeemed at Higher Percenatge of Principal Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfAggregatePrincipalAmountRequiredToRemainOutstandingIfDebtRedeemedAtHigherPercenatgeOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Repurchase Percentage of Principal Amount, excluding accrued and unpaid interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_DebtInstrumentRepurchasePercentageOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Debt Narrative - Senior Secured Notes and Revolving Credit Facility - Food Packaging (Details) (Food Packaging Segment [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]	May 31, 2010 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Senior Secured Notes due 2018 [Member]	Nov. 30, 2007 Secured Debt [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Debt repurchase date range, Prior to January 15, 2014 [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]	Nov. 30, 2007 Maximum [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount issued, long-term debt		$ 40,000,000	$ 175,000,000
Interest rate, long-term debt		9.875%	9.875%
Redemption percentage of aggregate principal amount authorized to be redeemed at higher percenatge of principal amount	35.00%
Redemption percentage of principal amount											109.875%
Percentage of aggregate principal amount required to remain outstanding if debt redeemed at higher percenatge of principal amount	65.00%
Line of credit facility				25,000,000					8,000,000
Percentage spread on debt					2.00%							2.50%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Floor				3.00%
Revolving credit facility unused line fee				0.375%
Line of credit facility, outstanding borowings					0	0			0	0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount							$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000