REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES 3 (Details)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) ft²	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Interest costs capitalized on development properties		$ 5,765,000	$ 5,340,000	$ 5,257,000
Internal Development Costs Capitalized During Period		4,754,000	3,789,000	4,467,000
Improvements on developments transferred to real estate properties		12,811,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		124,938,000	203,765,000	$ 95,032,000
Development		242,014,000	$ 293,908,000
Future Minimum payments receivable [Abstract]
2018		204,614,000
2019		177,110,000
2020		139,791,000
2021		100,559,000
2022		74,092,000
Thereafter		147,960,000
Total minimum receipts		$ 844,126,000
Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		903,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 8,371,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		36,787,000
Development		73,387,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 80,400,000
Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		1,263,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 16,699,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		37,124,000
Development		57,118,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 104,600,000
Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		5,861,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (25,070,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		19,484,000
Development		$ 111,509,000
Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		2,197,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		14,819,000
Development	[3]	$ 160,108,000
Lease Up Construction And Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		8,027,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		93,395,000
Development		242,014,000
Development obligations		29,000,000
Tenant improvement obligations		$ 5,800,000
Eisenhauer Point 1 & 2 [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		201,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		19,000
Development	[3]	$ 15,795,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		01/17
South 35th Avenue [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[4]	125,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[4]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[4]	0
Development	[3],[4]	$ 1,664,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)	[4]	01/17
Alamo Ridge III [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		135,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		28,000
Development	[3]	$ 10,587,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		02/17
Parc North 1-4 [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[5]	446,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[5]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[5]	132,000
Development	[3],[5]	$ 32,252,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)	[5]	02/17
Madison IV & V [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		145,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		549,000
Development	[3]	$ 8,074,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		03/17
Jones Corporate Park [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[6]	416,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[6]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[6]	275,000
Development	[3],[6]	$ 39,815,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)	[6]	04/17
Steele Creek VI [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		137,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		519,000
Development	[3]	$ 7,525,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		04/17
Ten Sky Harbor [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		64,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		100,000
Development	[3]	$ 5,365,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		04/17
Horizon V [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		141,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		4,814,000
Development	[3]	$ 9,249,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		05/17
Horizon VII [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		109,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		1,375,000
Development	[3]	$ 8,266,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		06/17
Eisenhauer Point 4 [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		85,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		2,544,000
Development	[3]	$ 5,197,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		07/17
CreekView 121 1&2 [Member] | Development completed and transferred to Real estate properties [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		193,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		4,464,000
Development	[3]	$ 16,319,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		08/17
Phoenix Area [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		0
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (4,013,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		120,000
Development		$ 0
Tucson [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[7]	0
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[7]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[7]	(417,000)
Development	[7]	$ 0
Fort Myers [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		570,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		469,000
Development		$ 14,112,000
Miami [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		850,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		3,632,000
Development		$ 30,876,000
Orlando [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		418,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (5,926,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		917,000
Development		$ 11,120,000
Tampa [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		32,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (2,153,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		32,000
Development		$ 1,560,000
Atlanta [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		196,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		1,207,000
Development		$ 1,207,000
Jackson area [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		28,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		0
Development		$ 706,000
Charlotte [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		655,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (4,046,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		1,472,000
Development		$ 6,729,000
Austin [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		180,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (3,100,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		6,120,000
Development		$ 3,020,000
Dallas [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		491,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (3,701,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		975,000
Development		$ 9,596,000
El Paso [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[8]	0
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[8]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[8]	(2,444,000)
Development	[8]	$ 0
Houston [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[9]	1,476,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[9]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[9]	(184,000)
Development	[9]	$ 21,190,000
San Antonio [Member] | Prospective Development [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		965,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ (2,131,000)
Development costs incurred, for the period		7,585,000
Development		$ 11,393,000
Alamo Ridge IV [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		97,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		2,152,000
Development		7,097,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 8,300,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		03/18
Weston [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[10]	134,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[10]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[10]	1,239,000
Development	[10]	15,520,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2],[10]	$ 16,000,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)	[10]	03/18
Oak Creek VII [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		116,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 2,153,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		3,978,000
Development		6,131,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 7,500,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		04/18
Progress Center 1 & 2 [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²	[11]	132,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1],[11]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period	[11]	10,333,000
Development	[11]	10,333,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2],[11]	$ 11,100,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)	[11]	04/18
Eisenhauer Point 3 [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		71,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		3,411,000
Development		6,159,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 6,800,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		06/18
SunCoast 4 [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		93,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		2,865,000
Development		9,120,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 10,000,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		06/18
Steele Creek VII [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		120,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 2,393,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		5,404,000
Development		7,797,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 8,600,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		09/18
Horizon XII [Member] | Lease Up [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		140,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 3,825,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		7,405,000
Development		11,230,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 12,100,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		12/18
Country Club V [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		300,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 0
Development costs incurred, for the period		10,656,000
Development		13,951,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 24,200,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		04/18
Kyrene 202 3, 4 & 5 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		166,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 2,280,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		9,263,000
Development		11,543,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 13,800,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		02/19
Creekview 121 3 & 4 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		158,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 3,701,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		6,610,000
Development		10,311,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 14,200,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		03/19
Eisenhauer Point 5 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		98,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 1,253,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		4,551,000
Development		5,804,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 7,500,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		03/19
Eisenhauer Point 6 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		85,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 878,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		3,172,000
Development		4,050,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 5,200,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		03/19
Horizon X [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		104,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 2,101,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		1,449,000
Development		3,550,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 8,000,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		04/19
Falcon Field [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		96,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 1,733,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		1,214,000
Development		2,947,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 9,000,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		05/19
Airport Commerce Center 3 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		96,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 1,653,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		80,000
Development		1,733,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 7,300,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		07/19
Settlers Crossing 1 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		77,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 1,494,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		62,000
Development		1,556,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 7,400,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		10/19
Settlers Crossing 2 [Member] | Under construction [Member]
DEVELOPMENT [Abstract]
Size (Unaudited) (Square feet) | ft²		83,000
Development Costs Transferred	[1]	$ 1,606,000
Development costs incurred, for the period		67,000
Development		1,673,000
Estimated Total Cumulative Development Costs	[2]	$ 8,000,000
Conversion date (or anticipated conversion date, if property is in lease-up or under construction)		10/19

[1] Represents costs transferred from Prospective Development (primarily land) to Under Construction during the period. Negative amounts represent land inventory costs transferred to Under Construction.

[2] Included in these costs are development obligations of $29.0 million and tenant improvement obligations of $5.8 million on properties under development.

[3] Represents cumulative costs at the date of transfer.

[4] This property was redeveloped from a manufacturing building to a multi-tenant distribution building.

[5] This project was acquired by EastGroup on 7/8/16 during the lease-up phase.

[6] This project was acquired by EastGroup on 11/15/16 during the lease-up phase.

[7] Negative amount represents land inventory costs transferred to Real Estate Properties for storage yard and parking lot expansion.

[8] Negative amount represents land sold on 11/3/17.

[9] Negative amount represents West Road retention ponds and infrastructure conveyed to West Harris County Municipal Utility District.

[10] This project was acquired by EastGroup on 11/1/16 and underwent redevelopment.

[11] This project was acquired by EastGroup on 12/12/17 during the lease-up phase.