Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Interest rate swap agreements
Principal Amount	$ 5,009,661
Fair Value / Carrying Amount of Asset / (Liability)	(547,834)
U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps 1 [Member]
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest Rate Index	LIBOR
Principal Amount	423,748
Fair Value / Carrying Amount of Asset / (Liability)	(119,895)
Weighted-Average Remaining Term (Years)	25 years 1 month 6 days
Fixed Interest Rate (%)	4.90%
U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps 2 [Member]
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest Rate Index	LIBOR
Principal Amount	3,766,809
Fair Value / Carrying Amount of Asset / (Liability)	(561,747)
Weighted-Average Remaining Term (Years)	8 years 4 months 24 days
Fixed Interest Rate (%)	3.80%
U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps 3 [Member]
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest Rate Index	LIBOR
Principal Amount	470,199
Fair Value / Carrying Amount of Asset / (Liability)	159,603
Weighted-Average Remaining Term (Years)	25 years 1 month 6 days
Fixed Interest Rate (%)	4.80%
Euro-denominated interest rate swaps [Member]
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest Rate Index	EURIBOR
Principal Amount	348,905
Fair Value / Carrying Amount of Asset / (Liability)	$ (25,795)
Weighted-Average Remaining Term (Years)	12 years 6 months
Fixed Interest Rate (%)	3.10%

Monetary amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate index.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tk_InterestRateIndex
Namespace Prefix:	tk_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The average time remaining until maturity on the group of derivatives identified.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageRemainingMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13495-108611

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativesAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration