Related Party Transactions - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions - Narrative (Details)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) capacity / d	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advances to affiliate	$ 7,154,000	$ 1,868,000
General and administrative expense—affiliate	14,182,000	12,499,000	$ 13,264,000
Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate	22,792,000	16,830,000	25,172,000
Revenues—affiliates	$ 257,402,000	256,760,000	256,399,000
LNG Terminal Capacity Agreements [Member] \| SPL [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Regasification Capacity \| capacity / d	2.0
Related Party Transaction, Committed Annual Fee	$ 250,000,000
Related Party Agreement Term	20 years
LNG Terminal Capacity Agreements [Member] \| SPL [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Percentage Of Committed Monthly Payment	100.00%
LNG Terminal Capacity Agreements [Member] \| SPL [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Percentage Of Committed Monthly Payment	0.00%
Service Agreements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advances to affiliate	$ 7,200,000	1,900,000
General and administrative expense—affiliate	14,200,000	12,500,000	13,300,000
Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate	23,500,000	17,300,000	25,200,000
Operation and Maintenance Agreement [Member] \| Cheniere Investments [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Committed Monthly Fee	$ 130,000
Related Party Transaction, Bonus Percentage of Salary of Salary Entitled Upon Meeting Certain Criteria	50.00%
Management Services Agreement [Member] \| Cheniere Terminals [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Committed Monthly Fee	$ 520,000
Cooperative Endeavor Agreements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Tax Initiative Agreement Term	10 years
Cooperative Endeavor Agreements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate commitment under the Agreement	$ 25,000,000
Cooperative Endeavor Agreements [Member] \| Cheniere Marketing [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advance ad valorem tax payments	22,100,000	19,600,000
Contracts for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas [Member] \| Cheniere Marketing [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party	5,000,000	3,300,000	3,300,000
Revenues—affiliates	11,700,000	700,000	14,700,000
LNG Site Sublease Agreement [Member] \| SPL [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual sublease income	$ 1,000,000	500,000
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Renewal Term	10 years
Review Period for Inflation Adjustment	5 years
Revenues—affiliates	$ 700,000	500,000	500,000
LNG Terminal Export Agreement [Member] \| Cheniere Marketing [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues—affiliates	0	0	0
Cooperation Agreement [Member] \| SPL [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assets conveyed under the agreement	80,500,000	700,000	0
Tax Sharing Agreement [Member] \| Cheniere [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income Taxes Paid, Net	0
Tug Services [Member] \| Tug Boat Lease Sharing Agreement [Member] \| Wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues—affiliates	$ 2,800,000	$ 2,800,000	$ 2,800,000

Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. 10-K