Earnings Per Share and Earnings per Unit (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Denominator - basic (in shares)	170,494	170,267	170,457	170,232
Effect of performance stock units (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Denominator - diluted (in shares)	170,494	170,267	170,457	170,232
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Denominator - basic (in shares)	199,751	199,726	199,716	199,734
Effect of performance stock units (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Denominator - diluted (in shares)	199,751	199,726	199,716	199,734