Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015 subsidiary
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of states in which entity operates	27
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	82
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	29cbl_NumberOfAssociatedCentersOwned
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	11cbl_NumberOfCommunityCentersOwned
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership	13cbl_NumberOfOfficeBuildingsOwned
Number of properties	135us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of subsidiaries owned by the company	2
Percentage ownership of the sole general partner in partnership	1.00%
Percentage of limited partnership interest owned by CBL Holdings II, Inc. in the operating partnership	84.30%
Combined percentage ownership by the subsidiaries in operating partnership	85.30%
Consolidated properties
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	72
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	25
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	7
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership	8
Number of properties	112
Number of mixed-use centers owned	1
Number of community centers under development	1
Number of malls under expansion	3
Number of malls under redevelopments	5
Percentage ownership interest in qualified subsidiaries	100.00%
Percentage of non controlling limited partner interest ownership of CBL's Predecessor in the Operating Partnership	9.10%
Percentage of non controlling limited partner interest of third parties in Operating partnership	5.60%
Number of company's common stock owned by CBL's Predecessor (in shares)	3.5
Total combined effective interest of CBL's Predecessor in Operating Partnership (as a percent)	10.90%
Unconsolidated Properties
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	10
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	4
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	4
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership	5
Number of properties	23
Number of malls under expansion	1
Number of malls under redevelopments	1

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more general or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of associated centers in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of community center properties in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of community centers under development in which interest is owned by the partnership as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of Malls Under Expansion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of Malls Under Redevelopment

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of mixed-use centers owned

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of office buildings in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of regional malls/open air centers in which interest is owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of subsidiaries owned by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of effective interest in Operating Partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by the limited liability company or limited partnership in an operating partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

+ References

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- Definition

The number of limited partner units issued.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section F

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- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held in the subsidiary by the limited liability company or limited partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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