Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical - REIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	15,000,000
Series E preferred stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, dividend rate (percent)	6.625%	6.625%
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
Receivables:
Tenant receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 1,910	$ 1,923
Other receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 838	$ 1,276
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	15,000,000	15,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	350,000,000	350,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	170,792,645	170,490,948
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	170,792,645	170,490,948
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Series D preferred stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, dividend rate (percent)	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	1,815,000	1,815,000
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Series E preferred stock
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, dividend rate (percent)	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	690,000	690,000