<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="paa-20220504.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001070423</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-05-04</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-05-04</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl80L2ZyYWc6N2FkZjFmNjAwMzcwNDYzYWE1ZjE4NTYzMDUzNTUyOTMvdGFibGU6NWEyYjZhMDU1MzRjNDMzZDk5MTY1OGI5MWY2YjdlZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1YTJiNmEwNTUzNGM0MzNkOTkxNjU4YjkxZjZiN2VmOV8wLTEtMS0xLTk5MTI3_e0d57f50-cd65-4d12-9d51-82af5ea63dc9">0001070423</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl80L2ZyYWc6N2FkZjFmNjAwMzcwNDYzYWE1ZjE4NTYzMDUzNTUyOTMvdGFibGU6NWEyYjZhMDU1MzRjNDMzZDk5MTY1OGI5MWY2YjdlZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1YTJiNmEwNTUzNGM0MzNkOTkxNjU4YjkxZjZiN2VmOV8xLTEtMS0xLTk5MTI3_bb45cdd3-530b-4d4c-86e3-8b765dcac4f2">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl80L2ZyYWc6N2FkZjFmNjAwMzcwNDYzYWE1ZjE4NTYzMDUzNTUyOTMvdGFibGU6NWEyYjZhMDU1MzRjNDMzZDk5MTY1OGI5MWY2YjdlZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1YTJiNmEwNTUzNGM0MzNkOTkxNjU4YjkxZjZiN2VmOV8yLTEtMS0xLTk5MTI3_87f0f9b6-7dd7-4ac4-8858-53394cdb0049">PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE LP</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzEy_7538228b-0ac0-4f2d-805d-4b2deb3d1f5b">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yMjk_d154cb40-6aa1-4173-ade9-f47b403565b3">2022-05-04</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MDVjYzg1NjExYmZhNDAyNTliY2M4YWQ2ZGNhZDU5N2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowNWNjODU2MTFiZmE0MDI1OWJjYzhhZDZkY2FkNTk3Y18wLTAtMS0xLTk5MTI3_1019053a-18a5-454b-82ca-ee5a49442571">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MDVjYzg1NjExYmZhNDAyNTliY2M4YWQ2ZGNhZDU5N2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowNWNjODU2MTFiZmE0MDI1OWJjYzhhZDZkY2FkNTk3Y18wLTItMS0xLTk5MTI3_312a635a-5f1a-4f5f-9684-fadb01de4044">1-14569</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MDVjYzg1NjExYmZhNDAyNTliY2M4YWQ2ZGNhZDU5N2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowNWNjODU2MTFiZmE0MDI1OWJjYzhhZDZkY2FkNTk3Y18wLTQtMS0xLTk5MTI3_66ee3e5d-6cc3-4208-8e0b-eb7b5bac99bf">76-0582150</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA0_1631e57b-67f2-4b58-a009-d1807384fad0">333 Clay Street</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA1_fbc48545-5f46-4b35-bbda-a480080f7b9b">Suite 1600</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA2_ed60c96a-4603-409d-9661-91740462d4ee">Houston</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzEz_b58a8515-bf40-43d2-92c2-ce6f4761616f">TX</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzE0_efdc91dc-858e-4bcb-9c72-e857f4030b9f">77002</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA3_d3d0ff59-2bca-431b-831f-e695b9bb3d54">713</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA4_80fe024f-4e04-497c-8900-6fa8c895ba9b">646-4100</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzAy_46e450c2-d945-432b-acb2-ae2147579e1e">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzA5_f499467a-36fa-4f23-8230-a2e2454450d2">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzEw_a6d3d4a8-75d4-4805-8ee9-1e945bca3fd5">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzAz_b8fb5f16-c800-454f-95c6-097bcbb9db36">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MWJiMzUzOWMyY2Y0NGZlZjg0OGY4ZDgxMjU2Mjc1ODMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYmIzNTM5YzJjZjQ0ZmVmODQ4ZjhkODEyNTYyNzU4M18xLTAtMS0xLTk5MTI3_ffd38208-aabc-4e24-acbb-ae449f931896">Common Units</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MWJiMzUzOWMyY2Y0NGZlZjg0OGY4ZDgxMjU2Mjc1ODMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYmIzNTM5YzJjZjQ0ZmVmODQ4ZjhkODEyNTYyNzU4M18xLTItMS0xLTk5MTI3_605dc669-1fd9-47f8-8f50-e31134a74b15">PAA</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGFibGU6MWJiMzUzOWMyY2Y0NGZlZjg0OGY4ZDgxMjU2Mjc1ODMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYmIzNTM5YzJjZjQ0ZmVmODQ4ZjhkODEyNTYyNzU4M18xLTQtMS0xLTk5MTI3_737ce399-a693-4449-9460-43dc83d1465a">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i46a91160c9b3467d81ae317af57e1f8a_D20220504-20220504"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNkOTExMjJmNGM5NTQ0Mjk4YzdiOWY4ZTY1YTMxMTAyL3NlYzpjZDkxMTIyZjRjOTU0NDI5OGM3YjlmOGU2NWEzMTEwMl8xL2ZyYWc6OTZlZDg3OTMyY2NkNDUwZTg4ZDlhOGZiZTNhMWZmOWEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5NmVkODc5MzJjY2Q0NTBlODhkOWE4ZmJlM2ExZmY5YV8yNzEx_4302705c-6965-4114-816f-8a48f26f546a">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
