Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Initial Cost to Company
Land		$ 1,406,580
Building and Improvements		4,717,020
Equipment and Furnishings		46,574
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		2,708,646
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		1,506,678
Building and Improvements		6,966,418
Equipment and Furnishings	$ 206,398	206,398	$ 187,998
Construction in Progress	199,326	199,326	366,996
Total	8,878,820	8,878,820	9,127,533	$ 9,209,211	$ 10,689,656
Accumulated Depreciation	$ 2,093,044	2,093,044	$ 2,018,303	$ 1,851,901	$ 1,892,744
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		6,785,776
Chandler Fashion Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		24,188
Building and Improvements		223,143
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		21,764
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		24,188
Building and Improvements		237,835
Equipment and Furnishings		6,043
Construction in Progress		1,029
Total		269,095
Accumulated Depreciation		111,436
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		157,659
Danbury Fair Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		130,367
Building and Improvements		316,951
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		117,155
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		142,751
Building and Improvements		409,786
Equipment and Furnishings		11,414
Construction in Progress		522
Total		564,473
Accumulated Depreciation		156,784
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		407,689
Desert Sky Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		9,447
Building and Improvements		37,245
Equipment and Furnishings		12
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		4,757
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		9,082
Building and Improvements		40,949
Equipment and Furnishings		1,430
Construction in Progress		0
Total		51,461
Accumulated Depreciation		11,953
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		39,508
Eastland Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		22,050
Building and Improvements		151,605
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		11,683
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		21,400
Building and Improvements		161,402
Equipment and Furnishings		2,174
Construction in Progress		362
Total		185,338
Accumulated Depreciation		33,928
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		151,410
Estrella Falls
Initial Cost to Company
Land		10,550
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		71,511
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		10,524
Building and Improvements		14,265
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		57,272
Total		82,061
Accumulated Depreciation		2,132
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		79,929
Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Initial Cost to Company
Land		0
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		268,088
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		40,575
Building and Improvements		222,769
Equipment and Furnishings		4,358
Construction in Progress		386
Total		268,088
Accumulated Depreciation		57,473
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		210,615
Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA
Initial Cost to Company
Land		18,581
Building and Improvements		210,139
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		104,604
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		22,936
Building and Improvements		307,958
Equipment and Furnishings		2,430
Construction in Progress		0
Total		333,324
Accumulated Depreciation		74,062
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		259,262
The Marketplace at Flagstaff
Initial Cost to Company
Land		0
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		45,610
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		0
Building and Improvements		45,610
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		0
Total		45,610
Accumulated Depreciation		23,524
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		22,086
Freehold Raceway Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		164,986
Building and Improvements		362,841
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		125,383
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		168,098
Building and Improvements		474,466
Equipment and Furnishings		10,507
Construction in Progress		139
Total		653,210
Accumulated Depreciation		191,173
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		462,037
Fresno Fashion Fair
Initial Cost to Company
Land		17,966
Building and Improvements		72,194
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		47,183
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		17,966
Building and Improvements		115,731
Equipment and Furnishings		2,603
Construction in Progress		1,043
Total		137,343
Accumulated Depreciation		55,422
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		81,921
Green Acres Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		156,640
Building and Improvements		321,034
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		187,974
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		179,274
Building and Improvements		474,438
Equipment and Furnishings		10,424
Construction in Progress		1,512
Total		665,648
Accumulated Depreciation		107,532
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		558,116
Inland Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		8,321
Building and Improvements		83,550
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		29,278
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		10,291
Building and Improvements		110,618
Equipment and Furnishings		129
Construction in Progress		111
Total		121,149
Accumulated Depreciation		17,815
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		103,334
Kings Plaza Shopping Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		209,041
Building and Improvements		485,548
Equipment and Furnishings		20,000
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		256,943
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		200,686
Building and Improvements		675,872
Equipment and Furnishings		43,408
Construction in Progress		51,566
Total		971,532
Accumulated Depreciation		95,071
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		876,461
La Cumbre Plaza
Initial Cost to Company
Land		18,122
Building and Improvements		21,492
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		15,699
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		13,856
Building and Improvements		40,425
Equipment and Furnishings		474
Construction in Progress		558
Total		55,313
Accumulated Depreciation		23,950
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		31,363
Macerich Management Co.
Initial Cost to Company
Land		1,150
Building and Improvements		10,475
Equipment and Furnishings		26,562
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		54,559
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		3,878
Building and Improvements		13,618
Equipment and Furnishings		71,853
Construction in Progress		3,397
Total		92,746
Accumulated Depreciation		55,776
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		36,970
MACWH, LP
Initial Cost to Company
Land		0
Building and Improvements		25,771
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		19,072
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		11,557
Building and Improvements		27,455
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		5,831
Total		44,843
Accumulated Depreciation		9,832
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		35,011
NorthPark Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		7,746
Building and Improvements		74,661
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		14,202
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		7,885
Building and Improvements		88,125
Equipment and Furnishings		584
Construction in Progress		15
Total		96,609
Accumulated Depreciation		20,502
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		76,107
The Oaks
Initial Cost to Company
Land		32,300
Building and Improvements		117,156
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		259,772
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		56,387
Building and Improvements		349,426
Equipment and Furnishings		3,085
Construction in Progress		330
Total		409,228
Accumulated Depreciation		150,737
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		258,491
Pacific View
Initial Cost to Company
Land		8,697
Building and Improvements		8,696
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		137,039
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		7,854
Building and Improvements		144,501
Equipment and Furnishings		2,043
Construction in Progress		34
Total		154,432
Accumulated Depreciation		71,282
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		83,150
Paradise Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		33,445
Building and Improvements		128,485
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		30,716
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		36,473
Building and Improvements		152,516
Equipment and Furnishings		2,709
Construction in Progress		948
Total		192,646
Accumulated Depreciation		79,166
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		113,480
Queens Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		251,474
Building and Improvements		1,039,922
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		43,506
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		256,786
Building and Improvements		1,074,030
Equipment and Furnishings		3,721
Construction in Progress		365
Total		1,334,902
Accumulated Depreciation		119,104
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		1,215,798
Santa Monica Place
Initial Cost to Company
Land		26,400
Building and Improvements		105,600
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		338,853
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		48,374
Building and Improvements		412,436
Equipment and Furnishings		8,189
Construction in Progress		1,854
Total		470,853
Accumulated Depreciation		132,506
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		338,347
San Tan Adjacent Land
Initial Cost to Company
Land		29,414
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		5,156
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		21,923
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		12,647
Total		34,570
Accumulated Depreciation		0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		34,570
San Tan Village Regional Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		7,827
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		208,509
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		6,344
Building and Improvements		207,590
Equipment and Furnishings		1,657
Construction in Progress		745
Total		216,336
Accumulated Depreciation		92,694
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		123,642
South Park Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		7,035
Building and Improvements		38,215
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		(7,977)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		2,899
Building and Improvements		33,696
Equipment and Furnishings		319
Construction in Progress		359
Total		37,273
Accumulated Depreciation		13,889
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		23,384
Southridge Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		6,764
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		8,257
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		2,295
Building and Improvements		12,358
Equipment and Furnishings		122
Construction in Progress		246
Total		15,021
Accumulated Depreciation		6,072
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		8,949
Stonewood Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		4,948
Building and Improvements		302,527
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		9,920
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		4,935
Building and Improvements		312,258
Equipment and Furnishings		196
Construction in Progress		6
Total		317,395
Accumulated Depreciation		40,127
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		277,268
Superstition Springs Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		10,928
Building and Improvements		112,718
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		8,751
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		10,928
Building and Improvements		120,641
Equipment and Furnishings		708
Construction in Progress		120
Total		132,397
Accumulated Depreciation		20,223
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		112,174
Superstition Springs Power Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		1,618
Building and Improvements		4,420
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		269
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		1,618
Building and Improvements		4,630
Equipment and Furnishings		59
Construction in Progress		0
Total		6,307
Accumulated Depreciation		2,009
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		4,298
Tangerine (Marana), The Shops at
Initial Cost to Company
Land		36,158
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		(8,059)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		16,922
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		11,177
Total		28,099
Accumulated Depreciation		0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		28,099
The Macerich Partnership, L.P.
Initial Cost to Company
Land		0
Building and Improvements		2,534
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		5,050
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		0
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		7,365
Construction in Progress		219
Total		7,584
Accumulated Depreciation		926
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		6,658
Towne Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		6,652
Building and Improvements		31,184
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		5,343
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		6,877
Building and Improvements		35,708
Equipment and Furnishings		495
Construction in Progress		99
Total		43,179
Accumulated Depreciation		16,062
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		27,117
Tucson La Encantada
Initial Cost to Company
Land		12,800
Building and Improvements		19,699
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		56,522
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		12,800
Building and Improvements		75,422
Equipment and Furnishings		716
Construction in Progress		83
Total		89,021
Accumulated Depreciation		43,880
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		45,141
Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		16,045
Building and Improvements		26,098
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		14,065
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		15,616
Building and Improvements		40,185
Equipment and Furnishings		407
Construction in Progress		0
Total		56,208
Accumulated Depreciation		10,319
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		45,889
Valley River Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land		24,854
Building and Improvements		147,715
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		24,119
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		23,487
Building and Improvements		157,244
Equipment and Furnishings		1,643
Construction in Progress		14,314
Total		196,688
Accumulated Depreciation		60,515
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		136,173
Victor Valley, Mall of
Initial Cost to Company
Land		15,700
Building and Improvements		75,230
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		53,101
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		20,080
Building and Improvements		121,973
Equipment and Furnishings		1,919
Construction in Progress		59
Total		144,031
Accumulated Depreciation		53,532
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		90,499
Vintage Faire Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		14,902
Building and Improvements		60,532
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		59,564
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		17,647
Building and Improvements		115,230
Equipment and Furnishings		1,759
Construction in Progress		362
Total		134,998
Accumulated Depreciation		72,801
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		62,197
Wilton Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land		19,743
Building and Improvements		67,855
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		27,044
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		19,810
Building and Improvements		93,673
Equipment and Furnishings		1,159
Construction in Progress		0
Total		114,642
Accumulated Depreciation		40,771
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		73,871
Other freestanding stores
Initial Cost to Company
Land		5,926
Building and Improvements		31,785
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		10,151
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		5,927
Building and Improvements		41,579
Equipment and Furnishings		296
Construction in Progress		60
Total		47,862
Accumulated Depreciation		18,064
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		29,798
Other land and development properties
Initial Cost to Company
Land		33,795
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition		23,510
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land		25,749
Building and Improvements		0
Equipment and Furnishings		0
Construction in Progress		31,556
Total		57,305
Accumulated Depreciation		0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation		$ 57,305