<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>41</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>112</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>14</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>10</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - DEI Document</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/DeiDocument</Role>
      <ShortName>DEI Document</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Condensed Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CondensedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001001 - Statement - Condensed Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CondensedBalanceSheetsParentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CondensedStatementsOfOperationsAndAccumulatedLosses</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002001 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CondensedStatementsOfOperationsAndAccumulatedLossesParentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CondensedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Organization</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/Organization</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/BasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Plan of Liquidation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/PlanOfLiquidation</Role>
      <ShortName>Plan of Liquidation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnerships</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2118100 - Disclosure - Cash Distributions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CashDistributions</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Distributions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2119100 - Disclosure - Cash Concentration Risk</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CashConcentrationRisk</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Concentration Risk</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2120100 - Disclosure - Significant Subsidiaries</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/SignificantSubsidiaries</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Subsidiaries</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2121100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2204201 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/BasisOfPresentationPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2310301 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2320301 - Disclosure - Significant Subsidiaries (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/SignificantSubsidiariesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Subsidiaries (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401401 - Disclosure - Organization (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/OrganizationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407401 - Disclosure - Plan of Liquidation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/PlanOfLiquidationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Plan of Liquidation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410402 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410403 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Summarized Financial Information, Statement of Operations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsSummarizedFinancialInformationStatementOfOperationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Summarized Financial Information, Statement of Operations (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410404 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Due on Investments and Sale of Local Limited Partnership (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsDueOnInvestmentsAndSaleOfLocalLimitedPartnershipDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Due on Investments and Sale of Local Limited Partnership (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410405 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Advances to Local Partnerships (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsAdvancesToLocalPartnershipsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Advances to Local Partnerships (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410406 - Disclosure - Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Investment Reconciliation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToPartnershipsInvestmentReconciliationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in and Advances to Partnerships - Investment Reconciliation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416401 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2418401 - Disclosure - Cash Distributions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CashDistributionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Distributions (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419401 - Disclosure - Cash Concentration Risk (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/CashConcentrationRiskDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Concentration Risk (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2420402 - Disclosure - Significant Subsidiaries (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.capitalrealtypartners.net/role/SignificantSubsidiariesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Subsidiaries (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Condensed Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 31, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2011'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001001 - Statement - Condensed Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002001 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Operations and Accumulated Losses (Parentheticals)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1004000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>crpiii-20130331.xml</File>
    <File>crpiii-20130331.xsd</File>
    <File>crpiii-20130331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>crpiii-20130331_def.xml</File>
    <File>crpiii-20130331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>crpiii-20130331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
