Additional secured and unsecured lines of credit that can only be used for issuing letter of credit.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Period of Extension Option

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage fee charged for exercising the extension option on the line of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_LineOfCreditOptionExerciseFeeChargedPercent
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Facility Fee Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of extension options available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfExtensionOptionsAvailable
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Debt Instruments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberofDebtInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=cbl_WellsFargoBankMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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MORTGAGE AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS, NET (Unsecured Lines of Credit and Unsecured Term Loans)(Details)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) extension_option	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) extension_option credit_line	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) credit_line
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt			$ 888,770,000	$ 1,241,379,000
Weighted average interest rate (percent)			4.82%	4.54%
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net			$ 4,465,294,000	$ 4,710,628,000
Loan, outstanding amount			$ 3,594,379,000	3,485,308,000
Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of extension options available \| extension_option			1
Unsecured lines of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of debt instruments \| credit_line			3
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity			$ 1,100,000,000	$ 1,100,000,000
Credit facility, facility fee percentage			0.25%
Weighted-average interest rate			1.82%
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt			$ 6,024,000
Unsecured lines of credit \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)			1.20%
Unsecured lines of credit \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.125%		0.15%
Unsecured lines of credit \| Minimum \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	0.875%		1.00%
Unsecured lines of credit \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.30%		0.35%
Unsecured lines of credit \| Maximum \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	1.55%		1.75%
Unsecured lines of credit \| Wells Fargo Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, extension fee percentage			0.15%
Unsecured lines of credit 3 and 4
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of debt instruments \| credit_line				2
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity				$ 500,000,000
Unsecured line of credit 5
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity				$ 100,000,000
Wells Fargo - Facility A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity			$ 500,000,000
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt			0
Amount outstanding on letter of credit			150,000
First Tennessee
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity			100,000,000
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt			1,400,000
Additional secured and unsecured lines of credit with commitment			$ 20,000,000
First Tennessee \| Wells Fargo Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, extension fee percentage			0.20%
Wells Fargo - Facility B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured credit facility, borrowing capacity			$ 500,000,000
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt			4,624,000
Amount outstanding on letter of credit			123,000
Unsecured Line of Credit, Facilities A and B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional secured and unsecured lines of credit with commitment			$ 30,000,000
Unsecured term loan 4
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage and other indebtedness, variable-rate debt	$ 350,000,000
Number of extension options available \| extension_option	2
Extension option, term (years)	1 year
Weighted average interest rate (percent)			1.94%
Unsecured term loan 4 \| Minimum \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	0.90%
Unsecured term loan 4 \| Maximum \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	1.75%
Unsecured term loan 4 \| Weighted Average \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	1.35%
Unsecured Term Loan 1
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate (percent)			2.17%
Debt instrument, face value			$ 400,000,000
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net			$ 400,000,000
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)			2.12%
Unsecured Term Loan 1 \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)			1.50%
Unsecured Term Loan 2
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 50,000,000
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net			$ 50,000,000
Unsecured Term Loan 2 \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)		1.90%		1.55%