The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more general or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of third party construction loan guaranteed by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Number of associated centers in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfAssociatedCentersOwned
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of community center expansions in which interest is owned as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of community center properties in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

Number of Mall Redevelopments Under Construction

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfMallRedevelopmentsUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of office buildings in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfOfficeBuildingsOwned
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of outlet centers under construction in which interest is owned as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfOutletCentersUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of regional mall expansions in which interest is owned as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfRegionalMallExpansions
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of regional malls/open air centers in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of subsidiaries owned by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfSubsidiariesOwnedByCompany
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of effective interest in Operating Partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by the limited liability company or limited partnership in an operating partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the LLC or LP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of limited partner units issued.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 87-21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section F

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held in the subsidiary by the limited liability company or limited partnership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 22

-Article 12

+ Details

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Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsidiaries [Member] States Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent [Member] Properties	Dec. 31, 2012 Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Properties	Dec. 31, 2012 Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta [Member] Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta LLC [Member] Parent [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		90000.00%				27500.00%
Number of states in which entity operates			27
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership				77	9
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership				28	4
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership				6	4
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership				13	7
Number of regional mall / open-air center expansions in which interest is owned by the partnership	1
Number of community center expansions in which interest is owned by the partnership	1
Number of Mall Redevelopments Under Construction	2
Number of outlet centers under construction in which interest is owned by the partnership	1
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						25.00%	75.00%
Percentage ownership interest in qualified subsidiaries (in hundredths)			100.00%
Number of subsidiaries owned by the company			2
Percentage ownership of the sole general partner in partnership (in hundredths)			1.00%	9.50%
Percentage of limited partnership interest owned by CBL Holdings II, Inc. in the operating partnership (in hundredths)			83.50%
Combined percentage ownership by the subsidiaries in operating partnership (in hundredths)			84.50%
Percentage of non controlling limited partner interest of third parties in Operating partnership (in hundredth)				6.00%
Number of company's common stock owned by CBL's Predecessor (in shares)				3.1
Total combined effective interest of CBL's Predecessor in Operating Partnership (in hundredths)				11.20%
Guarantors Percentage Obligation for Construction loan						100.00%