Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 entities	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 entities	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of entities - equity method of accounting	17				17
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Interest Rate					6.97%		7.33%
Extinguishment of debt		$ 77,099
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date				May 31, 2015
Retirement of debt, number of instruments		2
ASSETS
Investment in real estate assets	2,154,361				2,154,361		2,143,187
Accumulated depreciation	(538,700)				(538,700)		(492,864)
Real Estate Investment Property Net, Before Development in Process	1,615,661				1,615,661		1,650,323
Developments in progress	90,451				90,451		21,809
Net investment in real estate assets	1,706,112				1,706,112		1,672,132
Other assets	174,744				174,744		175,540
Total assets	1,880,856				1,880,856		1,847,672
LIABILITIES
Mortgage and other indebtedness	1,456,282				1,456,282		1,456,622
Other liabilities	55,404				55,404		48,538
Total liabilities	1,511,686				1,511,686		1,505,160
The Company	215,556				215,556		196,694
Other investors	153,614				153,614		145,818
Total owners' equity	369,170				369,170		342,512
Total liabilities and owners' equity	1,880,856				1,880,856		1,847,672
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	59,348		61,821		180,091	186,320
Depreciation and amortization expense	(18,889)		(20,423)		(57,158)	(61,907)
Interest expense	(19,150)		(21,002)		(57,861)	(63,199)
Other operating expenses	(17,705)		(18,742)		(53,223)	(55,765)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	21		1,271		21	1,701
Net income	3,625		2,925		11,870	7,150
Company's Share [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	30,556		32,803		93,002	99,190
Depreciation and amortization expense	(9,877)		(10,828)		(29,748)	(32,877)
Interest expense	(9,840)		(11,022)		(29,677)	(33,289)
Other operating expenses	(8,580)		(9,527)		(25,970)	(28,474)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	11		636		11	851
Net income	2,270		2,062		7,618	5,401
Kirkwood Mall [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	49.00%				49.00%
Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
CBL/TC, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	60.30%				60.30%
CBL-TRS Joint Venture LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Friendly Center, The Shops at Friendly Center and Portfolio of Office Buildings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Extinguishment of debt					100,000
Retirement of debt, number of instruments					4
Friendly Shopping Center [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, New Mortgage Loans					100,000
Nonrecourse mortgage loans closed , terms (in years)					10 years
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Interest Rate					3.48%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date					Apr. 05, 2023
CBL-TRS Joint Venture II LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Renaissaissance Center [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, New Mortgage Loans					16,000
Nonrecourse mortgage loans closed , terms (in years)					10 years
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Interest Rate					3.49%
Extinguishment of debt					15,700
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date					Apr. 05, 2023
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Capacity Available for Specific Purpose Other than for Trade Purchases	46,000				46,000
Total amount outstanding on the loans	11,364				11,364
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis					LIBOR plus 2.125%
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	65.00%				65.00%
Joint Venture Partner Interest, Ownership Percentage	35.00%				35.00%
Total Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture From All Partners					20,500
Guarantors Percentage Obligation for Construction loan					100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date					Mar. 18, 2016
Number of Extension Options Available	2				2
CBL Fremaux Member, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture					$ 18,450
Governors Square IB [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Governor's Square Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	47.50%				47.50%
High Pointe Commons Lp [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
High Pointe Commons IIHAP LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
JG Gulf Coast Town Center LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date					Jul. 06, 2015
Kentucky Oaks Mall Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Mall Of South Carolina LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Mall Of South Carolina Outparcel LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Port Orange I LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
Triangle Town Member LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
West Melbourne I LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%
York Town Center LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of Equity Interest in Real Estate Property	50.00%				50.00%