COMMON STOCK ACTIVITY (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2024		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)		47,700,432		43,575,539	41,268,846
Common stock offerings (in shares)		4,071,536		4,094,896	393,406
Common stock issuance in the purchase of real estate (in shares)		0		0	1,868,809
Incentive restricted stock granted (in shares)		84,308		57,741	71,217
Incentive restricted stock forfeited (in shares)		(2,545)		(1,015)	0
Director common stock awarded (in shares)		0		0	161
Director restricted stock granted (in shares)		5,040		4,134	5,696
Employee common stock awarded		600		575	2,425
Stock withheld for tax obligations (in shares)		(33,573)		(31,438)	(35,021)
Shares outstanding at end of year (in shares)		51,825,798		47,700,432	43,575,539
Common shares, issued		51,825,798		47,700,432
Forward Sale Agreements Outstanding, shares		385,253		406,041	0
Forward sale agreements settled, shares		(2,698,077)	[1]	0
New forward sale agreements, price per share	[2]	$ 178.32		$ 183.92
New forward sale agreements, shares	[2]	2,677,289		406,041
Forward sale agreements outstanding, gross proceeds		$ 67,446		$ 74,679	$ 0
Forward Sale Agreements Outstanding, price per share		$ 175.07		$ 183.92
Forward sale agreements settled, price per share (string)				N/A
Forward sale agreements settled, gross proceeds		$ (484,653)	[1]	$ 0
Forward sale agreements settled, price per share	[1]	$ 179.63
New forward sale agreements, gross proceeds	[2]	$ 477,420		74,679
Forward Sale Agreements Outstanding, price per share (string)					N/A
ATM Program - October 2024
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At-the-market program, maximum aggregate gross sales price		1,000,000
ATM Program - October 2023
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At-the-market program, maximum aggregate gross sales price		750,000
Gross Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		$ 746,153
ATM Program - December 2022
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At-the-market program, maximum aggregate gross sales price				750,000
Gross Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock				$ 464,305
Direct common stock issuances
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock offerings (in shares)	[3]	1,373,459		4,094,896	393,406
Net proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		$ 236,996		$ 692,312	$ 75,622
Gross Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		$ 239,390		$ 699,304	$ 76,386
Sale of stock, weighted average price per share		$ 174.30		$ 170.77	$ 194.17

[1] EastGroup settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements by issuing 2,698,077 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $480,663,000.

[2] The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the forward counterparties at the time it entered into forward sale agreements.

[3] Excludes shares of common stock sold on a forward basis as described in the following paragraph.