Equity (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance			$ 5,951,505
Redemption of limited partner units			(162,684)
Treasury unit purchase			(343,007)
LTIP units			35,459
Purchase and disposition of noncontrolling interests, net and other			4,500
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(1,617,947)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			1,252,553
Balance	$ 5,120,379		5,120,379
Preferred Units
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance			44,062
Purchase and disposition of noncontrolling interests, net and other			(247)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(2,503)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			2,503
Balance	43,815		43,815
Comprehensive income, attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			1,436
Simon Property (Managing General Partner)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance			5,049,115
Limited partner units exchanged to units			7,907
Redemption of limited partner units			(147,841)
Treasury unit purchase			(343,007)
Purchase and disposition of noncontrolling interests, net and other			3,984
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership			91,320
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(1,380,750)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			1,067,798
Balance	4,348,526		4,348,526
Limited Partners
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance			858,557
Limited partner units exchanged to units			(7,907)
Redemption of limited partner units			(14,843)
LTIP units			35,459
Purchase and disposition of noncontrolling interests, net and other			(1)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership			(91,320)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(231,833)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			180,114
Balance	728,226		728,226
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance	(411)	$ (1,643)	(229)	$ 4,264
Purchase and disposition of noncontrolling interests, net and other	164	299	764	11,029
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity			(2,861)
Comprehensive income, excluding $1,436 attributable to preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units			2,138
Balance	$ (188)	$ (1,103)	$ (188)	$ (1,103)