Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 102,301	$ 88,436
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	212,752	198,700
Net amortization of deferred finance costs and debt premiums	3,651	5,563
Net amortization of intangible lease assets and liabilities	(111)	(551)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	(1,058)	(4,789)
Gain on investment	(2,400)	0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(1,162)	(983)
Write-off of development projects	141	(115)
Share-based compensation expense	2,308	2,211
Net realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	0	(160)
Loss on impairment	21,038	3,912
Loss on impairment from discontinued operations	5,234	26,501
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	9,108	(178)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(7,618)	(5,401)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	11,225	11,724
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,459	1,310
Change in deferred tax accounts	1,666	3,681
Changes in:
Tenant and other receivables	(7,430)	(7,374)
Other assets	754	(3,152)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(15,821)	284
Net cash provided by operating activities	336,037	319,619
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to real estate assets	(233,202)	(159,414)
Acquisition of real estate assets	(26,444)	(61,289)
Additions to restricted cash	(2,909)	(2,595)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	219,800	49,366
Additions to mortgage and other notes receivable	(2,700)	(3,584)
Payments received on mortgage and other notes receivable	3,743	2,962
Proceeds from sales of investments and available-for-sale securities	15,877	0
Additional investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(31,969)	(4,994)
Distributions in excess of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	8,706	17,620
Changes in other assets	(14,295)	(1,759)
Net cash used in investing activities	(63,393)	(163,687)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from mortgage and other indebtedness	1,696,913	1,348,822
Principal payments on mortgage and other indebtedness	(1,568,874)	(1,311,827)
Additions to deferred financing costs	(3,173)	(2,864)
Prepayment fees on extinguishment of debt	(8,708)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	209,510	128
Costs of preferred stock offering	0	(134)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	0	4,434
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	0	(9,836)
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling preferred joint venture interest	(408,577)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	5,559
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(47,450)	(49,437)
Dividends paid to holders of preferred stock	(33,669)	(31,782)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(112,276)	(98,737)
Net cash used in financing activities	(276,304)	(145,674)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(3,660)	10,258
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	78,248	56,092
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	74,588	66,350
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	168,092	175,610
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	102,301	88,436
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	212,752	198,700
Net amortization of deferred finance costs and debt premiums	3,651	5,563
Net amortization of intangible lease assets and liabilities	(111)	(551)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	(1,058)	(4,789)
Gain on investment	(2,400)	0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(1,162)	(983)
Write-off of development projects	141	(115)
Share-based compensation expense	2,308	2,211
Net realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	0	(160)
Loss on impairment	21,038	3,912
Loss on impairment from discontinued operations	5,234	26,501
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	9,108	(178)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(7,618)	(5,401)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	11,225	11,724
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,459	1,310
Change in deferred tax accounts	1,666	3,681
Changes in:
Tenant and other receivables	(7,430)	(7,374)
Other assets	815	(3,152)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(15,888)	286
Net cash provided by operating activities	336,031	319,621
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to real estate assets	(233,202)	(159,414)
Acquisition of real estate assets	(26,444)	(61,289)
Additions to restricted cash	(2,909)	(2,595)
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	219,800	49,366
Additions to mortgage and other notes receivable	(2,700)	(3,584)
Payments received on mortgage and other notes receivable	3,743	2,962
Proceeds from sales of investments and available-for-sale securities	15,877	0
Additional investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(31,969)	(4,998)
Distributions in excess of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	8,706	17,620
Changes in other assets	(14,295)	(1,759)
Net cash used in investing activities	(63,393)	(163,691)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from mortgage and other indebtedness	1,696,913	1,348,822
Principal payments on mortgage and other indebtedness	(1,568,874)	(1,311,827)
Additions to deferred financing costs	(3,173)	(2,864)
Prepayment fees on extinguishment of debt	(8,708)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	209,510	128
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	0	(9,836)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	0	4,434
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	0	5,559
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling preferred joint venture interest	(408,577)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	(22,310)	(21,257)
Dividends paid to holders of preferred stock	(33,669)	(31,782)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(137,416)	(126,917)
Net cash used in financing activities	(276,304)	(145,674)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(3,666)	10,256
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	78,244	56,077
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	74,578	66,333
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	$ 168,092	$ 115,507