Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 282,009	$ 257,550	$ 255,584	$ 258,482	$ 270,248	$ 249,185	$ 244,516	$ 238,894	$ 1,053,625	$ 1,002,843
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt			9,108
Income tax provision									(1,305)	(1,404)	269
Income from continuing operations	8,983	52,234	16,255	37,845	82,441	36,166	34,674	32,768	115,317	186,049
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,053,625	1,002,843	1,019,899
Property operating expenses									(296,207)	(276,754)	(284,962)
Interest expense									(231,856)	(242,357)	(262,608)
Other expense									(28,826)	(25,078)	(28,898)
Gain on sales of real estate assets									1,980	2,286	59,396
Segment profit									498,716	460,940	502,827
Depreciation and amortization expense									(278,911)	(255,460)	(261,562)
General and administrative expense									(48,867)	(51,251)	(44,751)
Interest and other income									10,825	3,953	2,578
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									(9,108)	265	1,029
Loss on impairment									(70,049)	(24,379)	(51,304)
Gain on investment									2,400	45,072
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									11,616	8,313	6,138
Income tax provision									(1,305)	(1,404)	269
Income from continuing operations									115,317	186,049	155,224
Total assets	6,785,971				7,089,736				6,785,971	7,089,736	6,719,428
Capital expenditures									348,783	705,023	517,278
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] | Malls [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									930,081	901,249	922,529
Property operating expenses									(300,172)	(286,919)	(294,937)
Interest expense									(206,779)	(214,216)	(229,056)
Other expense									0	(12)	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets									295	1,188	57,621
Segment profit									423,425	401,290	456,157
Total assets	5,917,437				6,213,801				5,917,437	6,213,801	5,954,414
Capital expenditures									203,210	608,190	265,478
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] | Associated Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									41,726	40,212	38,909
Property operating expenses									(10,298)	(9,933)	(9,687)
Interest expense									(8,148)	(8,449)	(8,516)
Other expense									0	0	(400)
Gain on sales of real estate assets									0	202	301
Segment profit									23,280	22,032	20,607
Total assets	274,234				302,225				274,234	302,225	308,858
Capital expenditures									10,718	6,630	213,364
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] | Community Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									17,937	13,361	12,036
Property operating expenses									(3,568)	(3,219)	(3,122)
Interest expense									(2,397)	(2,517)	(4,478)
Other expense									0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets									452	608	1,193
Segment profit									12,424	8,233	5,629
Total assets	222,576				203,261				222,576	203,261	265,675
Capital expenditures									8,052	13,884	21,452
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. [Member] | All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									63,881	48,021	46,425
Property operating expenses									17,831	23,317	22,784
Interest expense									(14,532)	(17,175)	(20,558)
Other expense									(28,826)	(25,066)	(28,498)
Gain on sales of real estate assets									1,233	288	281
Segment profit									39,587	29,385	20,434
Total assets	371,724				370,449				371,724	370,449	190,481
Capital expenditures									$ 126,803	$ 76,319	$ 16,984