Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Mar. 31, 2012 CBL/TC, LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 CBL-TRS Joint Venture LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 CBL-TRS Joint Venture II LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Governors Square IB [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Governor's Square Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 High Pointe Commons Lp [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 High Pointe Commons IIHAP LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Imperial Valley Mall LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Imperial Valley Peripheral LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 JG Gulf Coast Town Center LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Kentucky Oaks Mall Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Mall Of South Carolina LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Mall Of South Carolina Outparcel LP [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Port Orange I LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Port Orange I LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Triangle Town Member LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 West Melbourne I LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 York Town Center LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 62,294		$ 40,096
Depreciation and amortization expense		(20,766)		(12,438)
Interest expense		(21,111)		(13,157)
Other operating expenses		(18,947)	[1]	(12,266)	[1]
Net income		1,470		2,235
Company's share [Abstract]
Revenues		33,411		22,554
Depreciation and amortization expense		(11,204)		(7,015)
Interest expense		(11,190)		(7,259)
Other operating expenses		(9,751)	[1]	(6,502)	[1]
Net income		1,266		1,778
Company's Interest						60.30%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	47.50%	50.00%	50.00%	60.00%	60.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%		50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Guarantors Percentage Obligation for Construction loan																			100.00%
Number of entities - equity method of accounting		17
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, New Mortgage Loans																			64,950				38,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Renewed and Extended																				98,883
Nonrecourse mortgage loans closed , terms (in years)	ten																						ten
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Interest Rate	5.099%																						4.90%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate																			3.50%
Percentage floor on LIBOR removed																			1.00%
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount		$ 394,386																	$ 3,332				$ 39,379
Extension Option Period Available On Maturing Debt																			1

[1] Condensed combined financial statement information of these unconsolidated affiliates is as follows: Total for the Three MonthsEnded March 31, Company's Share for the ThreeMonths Ended March 31, 2012 2011 2012 2011Revenues$62,294 $40,096 $33,411 $22,554Depreciation and amortization expense(20,766) (12,438) (11,204) (7,015)Interest expense(21,111) (13,157) (11,190) (7,259)Other operating expenses(18,947) (12,266) (9,751) (6,502)Net income$1,470 $2,235 $1,266 $1,778