Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Beginning Balance	$ 13,969	$ 5,644
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	883	(144)
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	242	1,001
OCI before reclassifications	1,125	1,953
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(523)	548
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	16,560
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Total	(17,083)	(548)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(15,958)	1,405
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Ending Balance	(1,989)	7,049
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	401	387
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance	384	333
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	3	3
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	10	(4)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	(394)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	3	3
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities	(384)	(4)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	404	390
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	329
The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	303	(1,214)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance	13,108	7,539
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	827	890
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	160	1,087
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(523)	(548)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	(13,268)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	304	342
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities	(13,108)	1,087
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	607	(872)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	8,626
Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	(3,053)	(3,304)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance	2,826	1,903
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	53	59
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	72	(82)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	2,898	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	(53)	59
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities	2,826	(82)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	(3,000)	(3,245)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	1,821
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Beginning Balance	13,969	5,644
OCI before reclassifications	1,125	1,954
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(523)	(548)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	16,560
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Total	(17,083)	(548)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(15,958)	1,406
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Ending Balance	(1,989)	7,050
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership | Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	401	387
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance	384	333
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	3	3
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	10	(4)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	(394)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	3	3
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities	(384)	(4)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	404	390
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	329
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership | The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	(2,750)	(4,518)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance	15,934	9,442
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	880	950
Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	232	1,005
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(523)	(548)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities	(16,166)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	357	402
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities	(15,934)	1,005
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	(2,393)	(4,116)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 10,447