The annual reduction amount to the Guarantor's Obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	cbl_AnnualReductionsToGuarantorsObligations
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

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

- Definition

Portion of the loan amount guaranteed by the company based on the guaranty percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Minimum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the company could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees after reductions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents amount recoverable by guarantor from third parties for amounts paid under the guaranty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of third party construction loan guaranteed by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Company's maximum guaranteed amount after loans were partially paid down.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_MaximumGuaranteeObligationAfterLoansPartiallyPaidDown
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of guarantee, including, but not limited to, financial standby letter of credit, fair value guarantee, guarantee of collection of scheduled contractual cash flows from financial assets, and contracts that contingently require the guarantor to make payments or perform services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12201-110248

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the current and noncurrent portions of a long-term real estate loan with an initial maturity beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, to finance building costs. The funds are disbursed as needed or in accordance with a prearranged plan; generally, a portion of the funds is disbursed at inception and the remainder as construction progresses. The money is repaid on completion of the project (generally one to seven years), usually from the proceeds of a mortgage loan. The rate is normally higher than the prime rate, and there is usually an origination fee. The effective yield on these loans tends to be high, and the lender has a security interest in the real property.

+ 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 210.7-03.16)
-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 210.5-02.19,20,22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of letters of credit and other surety bonds that are available for the future payment of malpractice claims.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 954
-SubTopic 450
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6491354&loc=d3e6049-115624

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_WestMelbourneILLCPhaseIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_WestMelbourneILLCPhaseIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_PortOrangeILlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_AmbassadorInfrastructureLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_WestMelbourneIIIandPortOrangeIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=cbl_YorkTownCenterLpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Contingencies (Guarantees) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Contingencies (Guarantees) (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Obligation recorded to reflect guaranty		$ 412,000	$ 412,000
Total amount outstanding on bonds		$ 21,372,000	21,446,000
West Melbourne I, LLC - Phase I
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Company's Ownership Interest		50.00%
Outstanding Balance		$ 42,397,000
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership		20.00%
Maximum Guaranteed Amount		$ 8,479,000
Obligation recorded to reflect guaranty		$ 86,000	86,000
West Melbourne I, LLC - Phase II
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Company's Ownership Interest		50.00%
Outstanding Balance		$ 16,377,000
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership		20.00%
Maximum Guaranteed Amount		$ 3,275,000
Obligation recorded to reflect guaranty		$ 33,000	33,000
Port Orange I, LLC
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Company's Ownership Interest		50.00%
Outstanding Balance		$ 57,298,000
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership		20.00%
Maximum Guaranteed Amount		$ 11,460,000
Obligation recorded to reflect guaranty		$ 116,000	116,000
Ambassador Infrastructure, LLC
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Company's Ownership Interest		65.00%
Outstanding Balance		$ 11,035,000
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership	100.00%	100.00%
Maximum Guaranteed Amount		$ 11,035,000
Obligation recorded to reflect guaranty		$ 177,000	$ 177,000
West Melbourne I, II and Port Orange I
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Debt instrument, option extension term		1 year
York Town Center, LP
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Company's Ownership Interest		50.00%
Maximum guaranteed amount of YTC's performance		$ 22,000,000
Annual reductions to guarantors obligations		800,000
Guaranteed minimum exposure amount		10,000,000
Maximum guaranteed obligation		$ 14,000,000
Reimburse Obligations		50.00%