CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - Unaudited (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
REVENUES
Income from real estate operations	$ 57,575	$ 52,777
Other income	17	35
Revenues	57,592	52,812
EXPENSES
Expenses from real estate operations	16,413	15,012
Depreciation and amortization	18,142	17,168
General and administrative	4,538	3,448
Expenses	39,093	35,628
OPERATING INCOME	18,499	17,184
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(8,805)	(8,986)
Other	367	316
Net Income	10,061	8,514
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures	(131)	(142)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	9,930	8,372
Other comprehensive loss - cash flow hedges	(2,535)	(1,037)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	7,395	7,335
BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.27
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,032	30,806
DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.27
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,109	30,886
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 9,930	$ 8,372