Earnings per Share and Earnings per Unit - Schedule of Basic and Diluted EPU for Common and Special Common Units (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to common unitholders	$ (41,720)	$ (54,101)	$ (77,365)	$ (269,449)
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	196,454	193,481	196,474	188,211
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to common unitholders	$ (42,805)	$ (54,710)	$ (79,378)	$ (288,549)
Total undistributed loss available to common and special common unitholders	$ (42,805)	$ (56,697)	$ (79,378)	$ (294,942)
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	201,559	201,690	201,587	201,551
Basic EPU:
Total basic EPU	$ (0.21)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.39)	$ (1.43)
Diluted EPU:
Total diluted EPU	$ (0.21)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.39)	$ (1.43)
Common units issued on conversion of SCUs | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	936,000	1,696,000	936,000	1,697,000
S-SCUs | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total undistributed loss available to common and special common unitholders		$ (1,143)		$ (3,429)
Distributed earnings:
Distributed earnings		$ 1,143		$ 3,429
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	1,561,000	1,561,000	1,561,000	1,561,000
Basic EPU:
Total basic EPU		$ 0.73		$ 2.20
Diluted EPU:
Total diluted EPU		$ 0.73		$ 2.20
L-SCUs | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total undistributed loss available to common and special common unitholders				$ (433)
Distributed earnings:
Distributed earnings				$ 433
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	565,000	572,000	570,000	572,000
Basic EPU:
Total basic EPU				$ 0.76
Diluted EPU:
Total diluted EPU				$ 0.76
K-SCUs | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total undistributed loss available to common and special common unitholders		$ (844)		$ (2,531)
Distributed earnings:
Distributed earnings		$ 844		$ 2,531
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	869,000	1,134,000	869,000	1,136,000
Basic EPU:
Total basic EPU		$ 0.74		$ 2.23
Diluted EPU:
Total diluted EPU		$ 0.74		$ 2.23
Common Units | CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Undistributed loss:
Undistributed loss	$ (42,805)	$ (56,697)	$ (79,378)	$ (294,942)
Weighted average:
Weighted-average common and potential dilutive common shares/units outstanding	197,627,000	196,728,000	197,651,000	196,585,000
Basic EPU:
Total basic EPU	$ (0.22)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.40)	$ (1.50)
Diluted EPU:
Total diluted EPU	$ (0.22)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.40)	$ (1.50)