Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Tenant receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,075	$ 1,910
Other receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 838	$ 838
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)	171,096,895	170,792,645
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	171,096,895	170,792,645
Series D Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	1,815,000	1,815,000
Series E Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	690,000	690,000
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Tenant receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,075	$ 1,910
Other receivables allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 838	$ 838