QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - UNAUDITED (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Sep. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2020		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 106,044		$ 92,256		$ 89,945		$ 88,865		$ 116,532		$ 84,180		$ 91,425		$ 81,365
Expenses	(68,849)		(67,845)		(66,458)		(65,567)		(65,250)		(61,605)		(64,476)		(58,831)
NET INCOME	37,195		24,411		23,487		23,298		51,282		22,575		26,949		22,534		$ 108,391	$ 123,340	$ 88,636
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures	(14)		(10)		(3)		(1)		(1,673)		(4)		4		(5)		(28)	(1,678)	(130)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 37,181		$ 24,401		$ 23,484		$ 23,297		$ 49,609		$ 22,571		$ 26,953		$ 22,529		$ 108,363	$ 121,662	$ 88,506
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)	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 1.29	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 0.73	[1]	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 2.77	$ 3.25	$ 2.50
Weighted average shares outstanding	39,507	[1]	39,338	[1]	39,007	[1]	38,882	[1]	38,561	[1]	37,771	[1]	36,944	[1]	36,465	[1]	39,185	37,442	35,439
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)	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 1.28	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 0.73	[1]	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 2.76	$ 3.24	$ 2.49
Weighted average shares outstanding	39,653	[1]	39,450	[1]	39,077	[1]	38,961	[1]	38,687	[1]	37,869	[1]	37,019	[1]	36,526	[1]	39,296	37,527	35,506

[1] The above quarterly earnings per share calculations are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each quarter for basic earnings per share and the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock and common stock 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 shares of common stock outstanding during each year for basic earnings per share and the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock and common stock 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.