CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
REVENUES
Income from real estate operations	$ 67,855	$ 61,882	$ 133,992	$ 123,450
Other income	39	35	56	56
Revenues	67,894	61,917	134,048	123,506
EXPENSES
Expenses from real estate operations	20,244	17,758	39,251	35,578
Depreciation and amortization	20,865	19,233	41,090	38,395
General and administrative	2,903	3,023	8,381	8,335
Expenses	44,012	40,014	88,722	82,308
OPERATING INCOME	23,882	21,903	45,326	41,198
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(9,015)	(9,172)	(17,701)	(18,237)
Gain on Sales of Real Estate Investments	21,855	30,981	21,855	42,313
Other	255	381	470	649
Net Income	36,977	44,093	49,950	65,923
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures	(87)	(180)	(241)	(299)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	36,890	43,913	49,709	65,624
Other comprehensive income (loss) - cash flow hedges	(984)	(3,462)	426	(8,859)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 35,906	$ 40,451	$ 50,135	$ 56,765
BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 1.09	$ 1.36	$ 1.48	$ 2.03
Weighted average shares outstanding	33,987	32,376	33,676	32,315
DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 1.08	$ 1.35	$ 1.47	$ 2.03
Weighted average shares outstanding	34,040	32,440	33,722	32,370
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 36,890	$ 43,913	$ 49,709	$ 65,624