REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES 2 (Details)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) ft²	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) ft²	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) ft²
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 73,725,000		$ 20,507,000
Basis		31,555,000		11,319,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				9,188,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 42,170,000	$ 2,903,000	$ 9,188,000
Northwest Point Distribution and Service Centers [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		232,000
Date Of Property Sale		2/12/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 15,189,000
Basis		5,080,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 10,109,000
North Stemmons III [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		60,000
Date Of Property Sale		3/4/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 3,131,000
Basis		1,908,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 1,223,000
North Stemmons II [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		26,000
Date Of Property Sale		4/12/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 1,203,000
Basis		765,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 438,000
Lockwood Distribution Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		392,000
Date Of Property Sale		4/18/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 14,024,000
Basis		4,154,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 9,870,000
West Loop Distribution Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		161,000
Date Of Property Sale		4/19/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 13,154,000
Basis		3,564,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 9,590,000
America Plaza [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		121,000
Date Of Property Sale		4/28/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 7,938,000
Basis		3,378,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 4,560,000
Interstate Commons Distribution Center I and II [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		142,000
Date Of Property Sale		5/31/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 9,906,000
Basis		3,568,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		$ 6,338,000
Castilian Research Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²	[1]	30,000
Date Of Property Sale	[1]	6/28/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold	[1]	$ 7,698,000
Basis	[1]	7,513,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments	[1]	$ 185,000
Memphis I [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²		92,000
Date Of Property Sale		12/16/16
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold		$ 1,482,000
Basis		1,625,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments		(143,000)
Ambassador Row Warehouse (one building sold in 2015) [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²			185,000
Date Of Property Sale			4/13/15
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold			$ 4,998,000
Basis			2,095,000
Gain, net of loss, on Sales of Real Estate Investments			2,903,000
Northpoint Commerce Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²				58,000
Date Of Property Sale				3/28/2014
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold				$ 3,471,000
Basis				3,376,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				$ 95,000
Tampa West Distribution Center VI [Domain]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²				9,000
Date Of Property Sale				7/8/2014
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold				$ 682,000
Basis				446,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				$ 236,000
Clay Campbell Distribution Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²				118,000
Date Of Property Sale				9/30/2014
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold				$ 7,690,000
Basis				2,826,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				$ 4,864,000
Kirby Business Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²				125,000
Date Of Property Sale				9/30/2014
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold				$ 5,306,000
Basis				(2,989,000)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				$ 2,317,000
Ambassador Row Warehouses (two buildings sold in 2014) [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Size (in square feet) of property sold | ft²				132,000
Date Of Property Sale				12/30/2014
Net Sales Price of Real Estate Sold				$ 3,358,000
Basis				1,682,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate, Discontinued Operations				1,676,000
Land [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		5,400,000	170,000	118,000
Gain on sales of land		$ 733,000	$ 123,000	$ 98,000
Castilian Research Center [Member]
Sales of real estate properties [Line Items]
Less Than Wholly Owned Joint Venture Investment Ownership Percentage			80.00%

[1] EastGroup owned 80% of Castilian Research Center through a joint venture. The information shown for this transaction also includes the 20% attributable to the Company's noncontrolling interest partner.