Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)	Preferred Stock USD ($)	Common Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income USD ($)	Dividends in Excess of Cumulative Earnings USD ($)	Total Shareholders' Equity USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Common Stock USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Preferred Units USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Common Units	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Common Units Common Stock	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership General Partner USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership General Partner Common Stock USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Limited Partners USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Limited Partners Common Stock USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Total Shareholders' Equity USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Total Shareholders' Equity Common Stock USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Redeemable Common Units USD ($)	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013										$ 1,560,355		$ 565,212			$ 9,866		$ 961,175		$ 4,923	$ 1,541,176		$ 19,179
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,559,934		25	1,700	1,967,644	6,325	(570,781)	1,404,913	155,021
Beginning Balance, redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests at Dec. 31, 2013		34,639																					5,883	28,756	34,639
Beginning balance, units at Dec. 31, 2013												25,050,000	199,593,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net income		1,146																					742	404	1,146
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,406	(1)				1,429		1,429	(23)	1,408									1,408	1,408				(1)	(1)
Dividends declared - common stock/units	(41,716)						(41,716)	(41,716)		(49,446)					(493)		(48,953)			(49,446)				(1,143)	(1,143)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(8,778)	(1,593)							(8,778)	(1,060)												(1,060)	(450)		(450)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests	(756)	756			(1,350)			(1,350)	594
Allocation of partners' capital										(704)					(20)		(684)			(704)				756	756
Net income	62,630						55,294	55,294	7,336	62,630		11,223			526		50,792			62,541		89
Dividends declared - common stock/units	(41,716)						(41,716)	(41,716)		(49,446)					(493)		(48,953)			(49,446)				(1,143)	(1,143)
Dividends declared - preferred stock	(11,223)						(11,223)	(11,223)		(11,223)		(11,223)								(11,223)
Issuances of common units, units	238,693													240,000
Issuances of common stock/units and restricted common stock	543			3	540			543			543					5		538			543
Cancellation of restricted common stock, units	(20,631)												(21,000)
Cancellation of restricted common stock	(347)				(347)			(347)		(347)							(347)			(347)
Amortization of deferred compensation	1,467				1,467			1,467		1,467							1,467			1,467
Allocation of partners' capital										(704)					(20)		(684)			(704)				756	756
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests	(756)	756			(1,350)			(1,350)	594
Adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at redemption value	67	(66)			16			16	51	67					1		66			67			279	(345)	(66)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2014										1,563,690		565,212			9,885		964,054		6,331	1,545,482		18,208
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	1,563,227		25	1,703	1,967,970	7,754	(568,426)	1,409,026	154,201
Ending Balance, redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests at Mar. 31, 2014		34,881																					6,454	28,427	34,881
Ending balance, units at Mar. 31, 2014												25,050,000	199,812,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014										1,550,441		565,212			9,789		953,349		13,183	1,541,533		8,908
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,549,928		25	1,703	1,958,198	13,411	(566,785)	1,406,552	143,376
Beginning Balance, redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests at Dec. 31, 2014		37,559								31,104													6,455	31,104	37,559
Beginning balance, units at Dec. 31, 2014												25,050,000	199,532,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net income		1,111																					782	329	1,111
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(15,576)	(382)				(12,804)		(12,804)	(2,772)	(15,576)									(15,576)	(15,576)				(382)	(382)
Dividends declared - common stock/units	(45,180)						(45,180)	(45,180)		(53,341)					(533)		(52,808)			(53,341)				(1,126)	(1,126)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,276)	(1,640)							(9,276)	(1,115)												(1,115)	(514)		(514)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests	(674)	674			(1,398)			(1,398)	724
Allocation of partners' capital										(764)					(37)		(727)			(764)				674	674
Net income	52,094						46,164	46,164	5,930	52,094		11,223			419		40,365			52,007		87
Compensation under LTIP	156				156			156		156					2		154			156
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling preferred joint venture interest	(286)				0			0	(286)
Dividends declared - common stock/units	(45,180)						(45,180)	(45,180)		(53,341)					(533)		(52,808)			(53,341)				(1,126)	(1,126)
Dividends declared - preferred stock	(11,223)						(11,223)	(11,223)		(11,223)		(11,223)								(11,223)
Issuances of common units, units	269,929													270,000
Issuances of common stock/units and restricted common stock	541			2	539			541			541							541			541
Redemption of common units, units													(15,000)
Redemptions of common units	(285)																(285)			(285)
Cancellation of restricted common stock, units	(37,217)												(37,000)
Cancellation of restricted common stock	(725)				(725)			(725)		(725)							(725)			(725)
Amortization of deferred compensation	1,847				1,847			1,847		1,847					19		1,828			1,847
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	(37)								(37)	(37)												(37)
Allocation of partners' capital										(764)					(37)		(727)			(764)				674	674
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests	(674)	674			(1,398)			(1,398)	724
Adjustment to record redeemable noncontrolling interests at redemption value	(147)	146			(47)			(47)	(100)	(146)					(2)		(144)			(146)			(566)	712	146
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2015										1,521,867		565,212			9,657		941,548		(2,393)	1,514,024		7,843
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	1,521,442		25	1,705	1,958,570	607	(577,024)	1,383,883	137,559
Ending Balance, redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests at Mar. 31, 2015		$ 37,468								$ 31,311													$ 6,157	$ 31,311	$ 37,468
Ending balance, units at Mar. 31, 2015												25,050,000	199,750,000