ORGANIZATION (Details) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 property associated_center mixed_use_center state mall community_center subsidiary office_building shares	Dec. 31, 2015 property
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	74
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | associated_center	23
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | community_center	9
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership | office_building	7
Number of real estate properties | property	113	4
Parent
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	65
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | associated_center	20
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | community_center	4
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership | office_building	7
Number of real estate properties | property	96
Number of mixed-use centers owned | mixed_use_center	1
Number of Malls under development	1
Number of Malls under expansion	3
Number of mall redevelopments under construction	3
Percentage ownership of the sole general partner in partnership (in hundredths)	9.10%
Percentage of non controlling limited partner interest of third parties in Operating partnership (in hundredth)	5.10%
Number of company's common stock owned by CBL's Predecessor (in shares) | shares	3.7
Total combined effective interest of CBL's Predecessor in Operating Partnership (in hundredths)	11.00%
Noncontrolling Interests
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of regional malls/open-air centers in which interest is owned by the partnership	9
Number of associated centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | associated_center	3
Number of community centers in which interest is owned by the partnership | community_center	5
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership | office_building	0
Number of real estate properties | property	17
Number of office buildings held for sale | office_building	2
Subsidiaries
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of states in which entity operates | state	27
Percentage ownership interest in qualified subsidiaries (in hundredths)	100.00%
Number of subsidiaries owned by the company | subsidiary	2
Percentage ownership of the sole general partner in partnership (in hundredths)	1.00%
Percentage of limited partnership interest owned by CBL Holdings II, Inc. in the operating partnership (in hundredths)	84.80%
Combined percentage ownership by the subsidiaries in operating partnership (in hundredths)	85.80%
Subsidiaries | Parent
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Number of office buildings in which interest is owned by the partnership | office_building	2