Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net income attributable to Taubman Centers, Inc. common shareowners (Numerator):
Basic									$ 203,925	$ 57,952	$ 55,267
Impact of additional ownership of TRG									2,828	85	114
Diluted									$ 206,753	$ 58,037	$ 55,381
Shares (Denominator) – basic									61,181,983	60,994,444	60,675,129
Effect of dilutive securities									1,056,456	283,271	365,366
Shares (Denominator) – diluted									62,238,439	61,277,715	61,040,495
Earnings per common share – basic	$ (0.54)	$ 3.52	$ 0.10	$ 0.25	$ 0.05	$ 0.34	$ 0.25	$ 0.31	$ 3.33	$ 0.95	$ 0.91
Earnings per common share – diluted	$ (0.54)	$ 3.48	$ 0.10	$ 0.25	$ 0.05	$ 0.34	$ 0.25	$ 0.30	$ 3.32	$ 0.95	$ 0.91
Weighted average noncontrolling TRG Units outstanding
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive effect (in shares)									4,123,160	4,149,144	4,089,327
Unissued TRG Units under unit option deferral elections
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive effect (in shares)										871,262	871,262