Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Series E Preferred Stock [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Shopping Center Properties [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Series E Preferred Stock [Member]	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Redeemable Noncontrolling Partnership Interests [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Preferred Stock [Member] Series E Preferred Stock [Member]	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Total Shareholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Total Shareholders' Equity [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Shopping Center Properties [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Shopping Center Properties [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Preferred Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Restricted Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units and Restricted Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Redeemable Partnership Interests [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Redeemable Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Redeemable Common Units [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Redeemable Partnership Interests [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Redeemable Partnership Interests [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Preferred Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Preferred Units [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Preferred Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units [Member]	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units [Member]	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units [Member] Restricted Common Stock [Member]	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Common Units [Member] Common Units and Restricted Common Units [Member]	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] General Partner [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] General Partner [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] General Partner [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners [Member] Restricted Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners [Member] Common Units and Restricted Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] Preferred Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] Restricted Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member] Common Units and Restricted Common Units [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Shopping Center Properties [Member] USD ($)
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2010																						$ 1,524,039							$ 6,309	$ 28,070		$ 34,379		$ 509,719							$ 10,685			$ 990,177					$ 7,376	$ 1,517,957						$ 6,082
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2010				1,523,943					23			1,479	1,657,507		7,855	(366,526)		1,300,338		223,605
Balance, partners' capital units at Dec. 31, 2010																																		22,750,000			190,065,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redeemable common units								32,271
Net income (loss)				159,409				4,940								133,936		133,936		25,473		159,409							3,982	958		4,940		42,376							1,255			115,185						158,816						593
Other comprehensive loss				(5,665)				(48)							(4,430)			(4,430)		(1,235)		(5,665)								(48)		(48)																	(5,665)	(5,665)
Redemption of units, value	(5,869)
Issuance of common units, shares																																					190,000
Issuance of common units																						278																						278						278
Conversion of 12,466,000, 125,100, and 9,807,013 operating partnership special common units to shares of common stock	729											1	728					729		(729)
Dividends declared - common stock				(124,615)												(124,615)		(124,615)
Dividends declared - preferred stock				(42,376)												(42,376)		(42,376)
Issuance of 8,772,114, 232,560 and 190,812 shares of common stock and restricted common stock				278								2	276					278
Distributions declared																									(42,376)	(164,387)					(4,457)		(4,457)			(42,376)							(1,771)			(162,616)						(42,376)	(164,387)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, shares																																					(16,000)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, value				(125)									(125)					(125)				(125)																						(125)						(125)
Issuance of shares of common stock (in shares)																																					141,000
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options																						1,955																						1,955						1,955
Exercise of stock options				1,955								2	1,953					1,955
Accrual under deferred compensation arrangements				56									56					56				56																			1			55						56
Amortization of deferred compensation				1,629									1,629					1,629				1,613								16		16									17			1,596						1,613
Allocation of partners' capital																						(2,989)								2,989		2,989									(21)			(2,968)						(2,989)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests				(3,005)				3,005					(5,205)					(5,205)		2,200
Adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at redemption value				1,108				(1,108)					1,108					1,108				1,108							384	(1,492)		(1,108)									12			1,096						1,108
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(44,239)				(8,897)												(44,239)		(4,433)							(4,440)			(4,440)																								(4,433)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests				2,038																2,038		2,038																																		2,038
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2011																						1,470,521							6,235	26,036		32,271		509,719							10,178			944,633					1,711	1,466,241						4,280
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2011				1,470,391					23			1,484	1,657,927		3,425	(399,581)		1,263,278		207,113
Balance, partners' capital units at Dec. 31, 2011																																		22,750,000			190,380,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redeemable common units								40,248														33,835
Net income (loss)				149,372				4,445								131,600		131,600		17,772		149,372							3,597	848		4,445		43,738							1,616			104,665						150,019						(647)
Other comprehensive loss				3,974				21							3,561			3,561		413		3,974								21		21																	3,974	3,974
Issuance of 690,000 shares of Series E preferred stock in equity offering				166,720					7				166,713					166,720				166,720												166,720																166,720
Redemption of units, shares	(224,628)																																		(4,600,000)			(627,000)
Redemption of units, value	(3,965)																							(115,000)		(9,429)									(111,227)							(41)			(3,732)	(9,429)					(115,000)		(9,429)
Redemption of Series C preferred stock						(115,000)				(5)				(111,222)			(3,773)		(115,000)
Issuance of common units, shares																																					42,000	855,000
Issuance of common units																										14,730																				14,730							14,730
Issuance of 352,816, 42,484 and -0- common units under deferred compensation arrangement																						(615)																						(615)						(615)
Conversion of 12,466,000, 125,100, and 9,807,013 operating partnership special common units to shares of common stock	59,738											125	59,613					59,738		(59,738)
Issuance of noncontrolling interest in Operating Partnership				14,000																14,000
Dividends declared - common stock				(138,069)												(138,069)		(138,069)
Dividends declared - preferred stock				(43,738)												(43,738)		(43,738)
Issuance of 8,772,114, 232,560 and 190,812 shares of common stock and restricted common stock				730								2	728					730
Distributions declared																									(43,738)	(169,766)				(4,685)		(4,685)				(43,738)							(1,771)			(167,995)						(43,738)	(169,766)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, shares																																							(39,000)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, value				(633)									(633)					(633)									(633)																				(633)							(633)
Issuance of shares of common stock (in shares)											690,000																							6,900,000			244,000
Contributions from CBL related to exercises of stock options																						4,454																						4,454						4,454
Exercise of stock options				4,454								2	4,452					4,454
Accrual under deferred compensation arrangements				44									44					44				44																			1			43						44
Amortization of deferred compensation				3,863									3,863					3,863				3,831								32		32									41			3,790						3,831
Accelerated vesting of share-based compensation				(725)									(725)					(725)				(719)								(6)		(6)									(8)			(711)						(719)
Allocation of partners' capital																						(3,171)								3,171		3,171									(18)			(3,153)						(3,171)
Issuance of 42,484 common shares/units under deferred compensation arrangement				(615)									(615)					(615)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests				(3,197)				3,197					(3,360)					(3,360)		163
Adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at redemption value				(8,778)				8,778					(3,155)					(3,155)		(5,623)		(8,778)							360	8,418		8,778									(94)			(8,684)						(8,778)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(34,119)				(8,464)												(34,119)		(2,423)							(3,779)			(3,779)																								(2,423)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests				7,120																7,120		7,120																																		7,120
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in other consolidated subsidiaries				40,962																40,962		40,962																																		40,962
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership				(9,863)	14,204															(9,863)	14,204		14,204																																		14,204
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2012																						1,521,660							6,413	33,835		40,248		565,212							9,904			877,363					5,685	1,458,164						63,496
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2012				1,521,097					25			1,613	1,773,630		6,986	(453,561)		1,328,693		192,404
Balance, partners' capital units at Dec. 31, 2012																																		25,050,000			190,855,000
Balance, partners' capital at Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redeemable common units																						33,835
Distributions declared																						(8,205)
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2012																						1,521,660							6,413	33,835		40,248		565,212							9,904			877,363					5,685	1,458,164						63,496
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2012				1,521,097								1,613	1,773,630		6,986	(453,561)		1,328,693		192,404
Balance, partners' capital units at Dec. 31, 2012																																		25,050,000			190,855,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redeemable common units								34,639														28,756
Net income (loss)				92,792				2,941								85,204		85,204		7,588		92,792							2,565	376		2,941		44,892							491			46,570						91,953						839
Other comprehensive loss				(762)				(6)							(661)			(661)		(101)		(762)								(6)		(6)																	(762)	(762)
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling preferred joint venture interest				10,000									10,000					10,000				10,000																			104			9,896						10,000
Issuance of common units, shares																																								8,780,000
Issuance of common units																												216,588																				216,588							216,588
Conversion of 12,466,000, 125,100, and 9,807,013 operating partnership special common units to shares of common stock	0
Dividends declared - common stock				(157,532)												(157,532)		(157,532)
Dividends declared - preferred stock				(44,892)												(44,892)		(44,892)
Issuance of 8,772,114, 232,560 and 190,812 shares of common stock and restricted common stock				216,663								87	216,576					216,663
Distributions declared																									(44,892)	(157,531)										(44,892)							(1,851)			(155,680)						(44,892)	(157,531)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, shares																																					(42,000)
Cancellation of common units and restricted common stock, value				(720)									(720)					(720)				(720)																						(720)						(720)
Accrual under deferred compensation arrangements				(7,095)									(7,095)					(7,095)				(7,095)																			(74)			(7,021)						(7,095)
Amortization of deferred compensation				2,704									2,704					2,704				2,704																			28			2,676						2,704
Allocation of partners' capital																						(4,676)								4,589		4,589									1,425			(6,158)						(4,733)						57
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests				(4,534)				4,589					(33,746)					(33,746)		29,212
Adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at redemption value				7,012				(7,011)					6,295					6,295		717		7,086							(1,545)	(5,467)		(7,012)									148			6,938						7,086
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(39,885)				(6,122)												(39,885)		(39,885)							(1,550)	(4,571)		(6,121)									(309)			(29,277)						(29,586)						(10,299)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests																																																								6,530
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership					(41,444)																(41,444)		(41,444)																																		(41,444)
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2013																						1,560,355							5,883	28,756		34,639		565,212							9,866			961,175					4,923	1,541,176						19,179
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2013				1,559,934					25			1,700	1,967,644		6,325	(570,781)		1,404,913		155,021
Balance, partners' capital units at Dec. 31, 2013																																		25,050,000			199,593,000
Balance, partners' capital at Sep. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redeemable common units																						28,756
Distributions declared																						(8,861)
Balance, partners' capital at Dec. 31, 2013																						1,560,355
Balance, shareholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2013									$ 25