Equity (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Preferred Units	Sep. 30, 2013 Simon Property (Managing General Partner)	Sep. 30, 2013 Limited Partners	Sep. 30, 2013 Noncontrolling interests	Jun. 30, 2013 Noncontrolling interests	Sep. 30, 2012 Noncontrolling interests	Jun. 30, 2012 Noncontrolling interests	Dec. 31, 2011 Noncontrolling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance			$ 6,893,089		$ 44,719	$ 5,865,884	$ 983,363	$ (877)	$ (1,029)	$ (720)	$ (634)	$ (59,000)
Limited partner units exchanged to units						6,041	(6,041)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners			53,384		(247)	14,386	33,951	5,294
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership						19,368	(19,368)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(1,252,886)		(2,503)	(1,070,279)	(179,855)	(249)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units and $6,499 attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties in temporary equity			1,110,906		2,503	948,947	159,438	18
Balance	6,804,493		6,804,493		44,472	5,784,347	971,488	4,186	(1,029)	(720)	(634)	(59,000)
Comprehensive income, attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units					1,436
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 1,958	$ 2,463	$ 6,517	$ 6,427				$ 6,499