Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Initial Cost to Company
Land	$ 1,406,580
Building and Improvements	4,717,020
Equipment and Furnishings	46,574
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	2,822,875
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,520,678
Building and Improvements	7,115,991
Equipment and Furnishings	230,215	$ 206,398
Construction in Progress	126,165	199,326
Total	8,993,049	8,878,820	$ 9,127,533	$ 9,209,211
Accumulated Depreciation	2,349,536	$ 2,093,044	$ 2,018,303	$ 1,851,901
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	6,643,513
Chandler Fashion Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	223,143
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	28,847
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	245,798
Equipment and Furnishings	6,192
Construction in Progress	0
Total	276,178
Accumulated Depreciation	119,086
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	157,092
Danbury Fair Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	130,367
Building and Improvements	316,951
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	126,366
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	142,751
Building and Improvements	419,228
Equipment and Furnishings	10,357
Construction in Progress	1,348
Total	573,684
Accumulated Depreciation	168,324
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	405,360
Desert Sky Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	9,447
Building and Improvements	37,245
Equipment and Furnishings	12
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	5,925
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,082
Building and Improvements	41,304
Equipment and Furnishings	2,243
Construction in Progress	0
Total	52,629
Accumulated Depreciation	13,348
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	39,281
Eastland Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	22,050
Building and Improvements	151,605
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,949
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	21,400
Building and Improvements	162,087
Equipment and Furnishings	2,117
Construction in Progress	0
Total	185,604
Accumulated Depreciation	39,109
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	146,495
Estrella Falls
Initial Cost to Company
Land	10,550
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	72,292
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,524
Building and Improvements	14,265
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	58,053
Total	82,842
Accumulated Depreciation	3,083
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	79,759
Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	271,689
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	40,575
Building and Improvements	225,564
Equipment and Furnishings	4,615
Construction in Progress	935
Total	271,689
Accumulated Depreciation	69,616
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	202,073
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	106,071
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	22,936
Building and Improvements	309,508
Equipment and Furnishings	2,284
Construction in Progress	63
Total	334,791
Accumulated Depreciation	86,070
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	248,721
The Marketplace at Flagstaff
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	45,839
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	45,839
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	45,839
Accumulated Depreciation	25,320
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	20,519
Freehold Raceway Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	164,986
Building and Improvements	362,841
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	127,095
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	168,098
Building and Improvements	476,605
Equipment and Furnishings	9,865
Construction in Progress	354
Total	654,922
Accumulated Depreciation	206,014
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	448,908
Fresno Fashion Fair
Initial Cost to Company
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	72,194
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	49,086
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	117,086
Equipment and Furnishings	2,595
Construction in Progress	1,599
Total	139,246
Accumulated Depreciation	59,862
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	79,384
Green Acres Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	156,640
Building and Improvements	321,034
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	192,815
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	179,274
Building and Improvements	477,334
Equipment and Furnishings	10,646
Construction in Progress	3,235
Total	670,489
Accumulated Depreciation	133,725
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	536,764
Inland Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,321
Building and Improvements	83,550
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	30,458
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,291
Building and Improvements	111,540
Equipment and Furnishings	351
Construction in Progress	147
Total	122,329
Accumulated Depreciation	23,371
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	98,958
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	278,300
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	209,041
Building and Improvements	725,672
Equipment and Furnishings	55,924
Construction in Progress	2,252
Total	992,889
Accumulated Depreciation	123,795
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	869,094
La Cumbre Plaza
Initial Cost to Company
Land	18,122
Building and Improvements	21,492
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	15,558
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	13,856
Building and Improvements	40,054
Equipment and Furnishings	375
Construction in Progress	887
Total	55,172
Accumulated Depreciation	24,311
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	30,861
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	68,215
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,878
Building and Improvements	17,803
Equipment and Furnishings	82,502
Construction in Progress	2,219
Total	106,402
Accumulated Depreciation	58,890
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	47,512
MACWH, LP
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	25,771
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	13,241
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	11,557
Building and Improvements	27,455
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	39,012
Accumulated Depreciation	10,542
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	28,470
NorthPark Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,746
Building and Improvements	74,661
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	14,270
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,745
Building and Improvements	88,348
Equipment and Furnishings	584
Construction in Progress	0
Total	96,677
Accumulated Depreciation	24,202
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	72,475
The Oaks
Initial Cost to Company
Land	32,300
Building and Improvements	117,156
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	268,713
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	56,387
Building and Improvements	357,661
Equipment and Furnishings	3,581
Construction in Progress	540
Total	418,169
Accumulated Depreciation	164,549
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	253,620
Pacific View
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,697
Building and Improvements	8,696
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	137,802
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,854
Building and Improvements	145,604
Equipment and Furnishings	1,737
Construction in Progress	0
Total	155,195
Accumulated Depreciation	76,064
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	79,131
Paradise Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	33,445
Building and Improvements	128,485
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	30,568
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	36,027
Building and Improvements	152,420
Equipment and Furnishings	2,815
Construction in Progress	1,236
Total	192,498
Accumulated Depreciation	83,546
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	108,952
Queens Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	251,474
Building and Improvements	1,039,922
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	53,224
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	256,786
Building and Improvements	1,082,499
Equipment and Furnishings	5,331
Construction in Progress	4
Total	1,344,620
Accumulated Depreciation	150,749
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	1,193,871
Santa Monica Place
Initial Cost to Company
Land	26,400
Building and Improvements	105,600
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	348,573
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	48,374
Building and Improvements	422,736
Equipment and Furnishings	6,710
Construction in Progress	2,753
Total	480,573
Accumulated Depreciation	143,965
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	336,608
San Tan Adjacent Land
Initial Cost to Company
Land	29,414
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	8,280
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	26,902
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	10,792
Total	37,694
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	37,694
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	213,089
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,921
Building and Improvements	213,348
Equipment and Furnishings	1,647
Construction in Progress	0
Total	220,916
Accumulated Depreciation	100,092
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	120,824
South Park Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,035
Building and Improvements	38,215
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(7,993)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,899
Building and Improvements	33,857
Equipment and Furnishings	447
Construction in Progress	54
Total	37,257
Accumulated Depreciation	15,207
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	22,050
Southridge Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,764
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	8,174
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,295
Building and Improvements	12,329
Equipment and Furnishings	139
Construction in Progress	175
Total	14,938
Accumulated Depreciation	6,915
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	8,023
Stonewood Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	4,948
Building and Improvements	302,527
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,002
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	4,935
Building and Improvements	314,127
Equipment and Furnishings	415
Construction in Progress	0
Total	319,477
Accumulated Depreciation	50,479
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	268,998
Superstition Springs Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	112,718
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,350
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	124,173
Equipment and Furnishings	895
Construction in Progress	0
Total	135,996
Accumulated Depreciation	24,683
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	111,313
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	349
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,618
Building and Improvements	4,698
Equipment and Furnishings	71
Construction in Progress	0
Total	6,387
Accumulated Depreciation	2,153
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	4,234
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	(7,622)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	16,922
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	11,614
Total	28,536
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	28,536
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	5,107
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	247
Equipment and Furnishings	7,365
Construction in Progress	29
Total	7,641
Accumulated Depreciation	1,220
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	6,421
Towne Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,652
Building and Improvements	31,184
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	5,105
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	6,877
Building and Improvements	35,596
Equipment and Furnishings	369
Construction in Progress	99
Total	42,941
Accumulated Depreciation	16,888
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	26,053
Tucson La Encantada
Initial Cost to Company
Land	12,800
Building and Improvements	19,699
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	58,005
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	12,800
Building and Improvements	75,755
Equipment and Furnishings	732
Construction in Progress	1,217
Total	90,504
Accumulated Depreciation	45,861
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	44,643
Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	16,045
Building and Improvements	26,098
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	13,952
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	15,616
Building and Improvements	40,188
Equipment and Furnishings	291
Construction in Progress	0
Total	56,095
Accumulated Depreciation	12,395
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	43,700
Valley River Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	147,715
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	33,159
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	174,489
Equipment and Furnishings	1,739
Construction in Progress	4,646
Total	205,728
Accumulated Depreciation	66,288
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	139,440
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	54,374
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	20,080
Building and Improvements	123,291
Equipment and Furnishings	1,933
Construction in Progress	0
Total	145,304
Accumulated Depreciation	58,624
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	86,680
Vintage Faire Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	14,902
Building and Improvements	60,532
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	60,162
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,647
Building and Improvements	116,161
Equipment and Furnishings	1,788
Construction in Progress	0
Total	135,596
Accumulated Depreciation	75,818
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	59,778
Wilton Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	19,743
Building and Improvements	67,855
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	27,482
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	19,810
Building and Improvements	93,935
Equipment and Furnishings	1,264
Construction in Progress	71
Total	115,080
Accumulated Depreciation	44,946
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	70,134
Other freestanding stores
Initial Cost to Company
Land	5,926
Building and Improvements	31,785
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,621
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,927
Building and Improvements	43,109
Equipment and Furnishings	296
Construction in Progress	0
Total	49,332
Accumulated Depreciation	20,255
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	29,077
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	18,383
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	26,057
Building and Improvements	4,278
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	21,843
Total	52,178
Accumulated Depreciation	171
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	$ 52,007