Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 03, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000910612
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		170,793,828
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Entity Central Index Key	0000915140
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer