Earnings Per Share and Earnings per Unit (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Denominator - basic (in shares)	170,792	170,494	170,751	170,470
Effect of performance stock units (in shares)	0	0	0	30
Denominator - diluted (in shares)	170,792	170,494	170,751	170,500
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Denominator - basic (in shares)	200,004	199,751	199,992	199,728
Effect of performance stock units (in shares)	0	0	0	30
Denominator - diluted (in shares)	200,004	199,751	199,992	199,758