QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - UNAUDITED (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 61,269		$ 58,795		$ 60,989		$ 57,959		$ 59,148		$ 63,693		$ 54,037		$ 53,128
Expenses	(49,691)		(46,698)		(46,326)		(47,898)		(46,292)		(45,832)		(44,795)		(44,614)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	11,578		12,097		14,663		10,061		12,856		17,861		9,242		8,514		$ 48,399	$ 48,473	$ 32,338
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS																	0	0	887
NET INCOME																	48,399	48,473	33,225
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures	(143)		(129)		(130)		(131)		(134)		(132)		(124)		(142)		(533)	(532)	(610)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 11,435		$ 11,968		$ 14,533		$ 9,930		$ 12,722		$ 17,729		$ 9,118		$ 8,372		$ 47,866	$ 47,941	$ 32,615
BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.56	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.27	[1]	$ 1.49	$ 1.53	$ 1.08
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,159	[1]	32,126	[1]	32,045	[1]	32,032	[1]	31,892	[1]	31,515	[1]	31,137	[1]	30,806	[1]	32,091	31,341	30,162
DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.56	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.27	[1]	$ 1.49	$ 1.52	$ 1.08
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,314	[1]	32,248	[1]	32,139	[1]	32,109	[1]	32,043	[1]	31,644	[1]	31,244	[1]	30,886	[1]	32,196	31,452	30,269

[1] The above quarterly earnings per share calculations are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each quarter for basic earnings per share and the weighted average number of outstanding common shares and common share equivalents during each quarter for diluted earnings per share. The annual earnings per share calculations in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year for basic earnings per share and the weighted average number of outstanding common shares and common share equivalents during each year for diluted earnings per share. The sum of quarterly financial data may vary from the annual data due to rounding.