Revenue Change in Contract Balances (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Change in Contract with Customer, Asset [Abstract]
Contract with customer, asset, net, beginning balance	$ 17,245
Payments received for services billed	(14,558)
Services provided and billed in current period	84,336
Payments received for services billed in current period	(65,089)
Impairment	(1,006)
Contract with customer, asset, net, ending balance	20,928
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with customer, liability, beginning balance	0
Services provided and billed in current period	33,763
Deferred commissioning period billing	(1,412)
Contract with customer, liability, ending balance	$ 32,351

Contract with Customer, Asset, Payment Received for Services Billed

No definition available.

Name:	glng_ContractwithCustomerAssetPaymentReceivedforServicesBilled
Namespace Prefix:	glng_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contract with Customer, Asset, Payment Received for Services Billed in Prior Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	glng_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contract with Customer, Asset, Revenue Recognized

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	glng_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contract with Customer, Liability, Deferred Commission Period Billing

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	glng_ContractwithCustomerLiabilityDeferredCommissionPeriodBilling
Namespace Prefix:	glng_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of credit loss recognized for write-down of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
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+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

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