Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Beginning Balance	$ (1,419)	$ 8,614	$ 13,969	$ 5,644
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	975	1,148	3,074	3,021
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities	0	4,044	242	6,240
OCI before reclassifications, Total	975	5,192	3,316	9,261
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(518)	(551)	(1,687)	(1,650)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities			16,560
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Total	(518)	(551)	(18,247)	(1,650)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	457	4,641	(14,931)	7,611
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Ending Balance	(962)	13,255	(962)	13,255
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	410	393	401	387
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance		351	384	333
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	9	5	18	11
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities		31	10	49
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities		0	(394)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	9	5	18	11
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities		31	(384)	49
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	419	398	419	398
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	382	0	382
The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	1,109	(557)	303	(1,214)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance		10,216	13,108	7,539
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	903	1,060	2,878	2,816
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities		2,637	160	5,314
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(518)	(551)	(1,687)	(1,650)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities		0	(13,268)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	385	509	1,191	1,166
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities		2,637	(13,108)	5,314
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	1,494	(48)	1,494	(48)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	12,853	0	12,853
Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Beginning Balance	(2,938)	(3,193)	(3,053)	(3,304)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance		1,404	2,826	1,903
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	63	83	178	194
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities		1,376	72	877
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities		0	(2,898)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	63	83	178	194
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities		1,376	(2,826)	877
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	(2,875)	(3,110)	(2,875)	(3,110)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	2,780	0	2,780
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Beginning Balance	(1,419)	8,613	13,969	5,644
OCI before reclassifications, Total	975	5,193	3,316	9,261
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(518)	(551)	(1,687)	(1,650)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities			16,560
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Total	(518)	(551)	(18,247)	(1,650)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	457	4,642	(14,931)	7,611
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Ending Balance	(962)	13,255	(962)	13,255
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	411	393	401	387
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance		351	384	333
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	9	5	19	11
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities		31	10	49
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities		0	(394)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	9	5	19	11
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities		31	(384)	49
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	420	398	420	398
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	0	382	0	382
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	(1,830)	(3,751)	(2,750)	(4,518)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Beginning Balance		11,620	15,934	9,442
OCI before reclassifications, Hedging Agreements	966	1,144	3,055	3,010
OCI before reclassifications, Available-for-Sale Securities		4,013	232	6,191
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	(518)	(551)	(1,687)	(1,650)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Available-for-Sale securities		0	(16,166)	0
Net OCI, Hedging Agreements	448	593	1,368	1,360
Net OCI, Available-for-Sale Securities		4,013	(15,934)	6,191
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Hedging Agreements, Ending Balance	(1,382)	(3,158)	(1,382)	(3,158)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, Available-for-Sale Securities, Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 15,633	$ 0	$ 15,633