Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Initial Assessment of Revenues) (Details) - Pro Forma - Accounting Standards Update 2014-09	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue stream
Management, development and leasing fees	1.00%
Marketing revenues	1.00%
Total estimated ASC 606 revenues as a percentage of total revenues	2.00%

Revenue From Contract With Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax, Management Fees Revenue, Percentage

No definition available.

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