Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 1,340,852	$ 1,399,599
Total other comprehensive income				431
Ending Balance	$ 1,244,456	$ 1,316,668	1,244,456	1,316,668
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	0	0	0	443
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			1,341,179	1,400,038
Total other comprehensive income				431
Ending balance	1,244,746	1,316,999	1,244,746	1,316,999
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, Hedging Agreements	$ 0	0	$ 0	443
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				433
OCI before reclassifications				3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(436)
Total other comprehensive income				(433)
Ending Balance		0		0
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				434
OCI before reclassifications				3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(437)
Total other comprehensive income				(434)
Ending balance		0		0
The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				1,935
OCI before reclassifications				814
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(2,749)
Total other comprehensive income				(1,935)
Ending Balance		0		0
The Company/Partners' Capital | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(868)
OCI before reclassifications				874
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(6)
Total other comprehensive income				868
Ending balance		0		0
Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				(2,802)
OCI before reclassifications				60
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				2,742
Total other comprehensive income				2,802
Ending Balance		0		0
Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				(434)
OCI before reclassifications				877
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(443)
Total other comprehensive income				434
Ending Balance		0		0
Total | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(434)
OCI before reclassifications				877
Amounts reclassified from AOCI				(443)
Total other comprehensive income				434
Ending balance		$ 0		$ 0