Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 63,776	$ 39,885
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,083	71,662
Net amortization of deferred finance costs and debt premiums	2,234	1,586
Net amortization of intangible lease assets and liabilities	129	(314)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	(1,154)	(543)
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations	17	(781)
Write-off of development projects	1	2
Share-based compensation expense	1,974	1,464
Loss on impairment	17,150	0
Loss on impairment from discontinued operations	681	0
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(42,660)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,684)	(2,619)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	3,035	4,465
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,206	698
Change in deferred tax accounts	449	2,661
Changes in:
Tenant and other receivables	6,444	102
Other assets	(6,931)	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(24,804)	(50,763)
Net cash provided by operating activities	86,946	67,505
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to real estate assets	(53,091)	(42,567)
Reductions to restricted cash	7,669	1,697
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	2,127	44,328
Payments received on mortgage and other notes receivable	224	3,630
Proceeds from sales of investments and available-for-sale securities	0	11,002
Additional investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(3,449)	(20,588)
Distributions in excess of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,414	4,343
Changes in other assets	(1,702)	(1,816)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(42,808)	29
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from mortgage and other indebtedness	219,836	247,209
Principal payments on mortgage and other indebtedness	(208,752)	(307,697)
Additions to deferred financing costs	(62)	(651)
Prepayment fees on extinguishment of debt	(1,249)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	35	43,869
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(10,371)	(15,224)
Dividends paid to holders of preferred stock	(11,223)	(11,223)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(41,662)	(35,485)
Net cash used in financing activities	(53,448)	(79,202)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(9,310)	(11,668)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	65,500	78,248
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	56,190	66,580
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	53,722	57,775
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	63,776	39,885
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	69,083	71,662
Net amortization of deferred finance costs and debt premiums	2,234	1,586
Net amortization of intangible lease assets and liabilities	129	(314)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	(1,154)	(543)
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations	17	(781)
Write-off of development projects	1	2
Share-based compensation expense	1,974	1,464
Loss on impairment	17,150	0
Loss on impairment from discontinued operations	681	0
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(42,660)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,684)	(2,619)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	3,035	4,465
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,206	698
Change in deferred tax accounts	449	2,661
Changes in:
Tenant and other receivables	6,444	102
Other assets	(6,931)	61
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(24,812)	(50,852)
Net cash provided by operating activities	86,938	67,477
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to real estate assets	(53,091)	(42,567)
Reductions to restricted cash	7,669	1,697
Proceeds from sales of real estate assets	2,127	44,328
Payments received on mortgage and other notes receivable	224	3,630
Proceeds from sales of investments and available-for-sale securities	0	11,002
Additional investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(3,449)	(20,590)
Distributions in excess of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,414	4,343
Changes in other assets	(1,702)	(1,816)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(42,808)	27
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from mortgage and other indebtedness	219,836	247,209
Principal payments on mortgage and other indebtedness	(208,752)	(307,697)
Additions to deferred financing costs	(62)	(651)
Prepayment fees on extinguishment of debt	(1,249)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	35	43,869
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	(1,510)	(7,125)
Dividends paid to holders of preferred stock	(11,223)	(11,223)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(50,523)	(43,584)
Net cash used in financing activities	(53,448)	(79,202)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(9,318)	(11,698)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	65,486	78,244
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	56,168	66,546
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	$ 53,722	$ 57,775