CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
REVENUES
Income from real estate operations	$ 252,961	$ 234,918	$ 219,706
Other income	86	90	123
Revenues	253,047	235,008	219,829
EXPENSES
Expenses from real estate operations	74,347	67,402	62,797
Depreciation and amortization	77,935	73,290	70,314
General and administrative	13,232	15,091	12,726
Acquisition costs	161	164	210
Expenses	165,675	155,947	146,047
OPERATING INCOME	87,372	79,061	73,782
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(35,213)	(34,666)	(35,486)
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments	42,170	2,903	9,188
Other	1,765	1,101	989
NET INCOME	96,094	48,399	48,473
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures	(585)	(533)	(532)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	95,509	47,866	47,941
Other comprehensive income (loss) - cash flow hedges	5,451	(1,099)	(3,986)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 100,960	$ 46,767	$ 43,955
BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 2.93	$ 1.49	$ 1.53
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,563	32,091	31,341
DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 2.93	$ 1.49	$ 1.52
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,628	32,196	31,452
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 95,509	$ 47,866	$ 47,941