Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Initial Cost to Company
Land	$ 1,453,152
Building and Improvements	5,021,262
Equipment and Furnishings	46,574
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	2,735,724
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,538,270
Building and Improvements	7,370,958
Equipment and Furnishings	194,231	$ 230,215
Construction in Progress	153,253	126,165
Total	9,256,712	8,993,049	$ 8,878,820	$ 9,127,533
Accumulated Depreciation	2,562,133	$ 2,349,536	$ 2,093,044	$ 2,018,303
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	6,694,579
Chandler Fashion Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	223,143
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	27,118
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	245,004
Equipment and Furnishings	5,120
Construction in Progress	137
Total	274,449
Accumulated Depreciation	125,007
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	149,442
Danbury Fair Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	130,367
Building and Improvements	316,951
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	120,938
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	141,479
Building and Improvements	380,517
Equipment and Furnishings	10,162
Construction in Progress	36,098
Total	568,256
Accumulated Depreciation	171,276
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	396,980
Desert Sky Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	9,447
Building and Improvements	37,245
Equipment and Furnishings	12
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	6,324
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,082
Building and Improvements	41,173
Equipment and Furnishings	2,773
Construction in Progress	0
Total	53,028
Accumulated Depreciation	14,911
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	38,117
Eastland Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	22,050
Building and Improvements	151,605
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,894
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	21,161
Building and Improvements	162,243
Equipment and Furnishings	2,135
Construction in Progress	10
Total	185,549
Accumulated Depreciation	44,291
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	141,258
Estrella Falls
Initial Cost to Company
Land	10,550
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	52,007
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,524
Building and Improvements	52,033
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	62,557
Accumulated Depreciation	6,342
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	56,215
Fashion District Philadelphia
Initial Cost to Company
Land	38,402
Building and Improvements	293,112
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	0
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	38,402
Building and Improvements	280,253
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	12,859
Total	331,514
Accumulated Depreciation	521
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	330,993
Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	269,570
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	39,910
Building and Improvements	220,559
Equipment and Furnishings	4,569
Construction in Progress	4,532
Total	269,570
Accumulated Depreciation	76,403
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	193,167
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	106,751
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	23,762
Building and Improvements	309,409
Equipment and Furnishings	2,225
Construction in Progress	75
Total	335,471
Accumulated Depreciation	97,743
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	237,728
The Marketplace at Flagstaff
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	45,851
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	45,851
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	45,851
Accumulated Depreciation	27,137
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	18,714
Freehold Raceway Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	164,986
Building and Improvements	362,841
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	126,946
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	168,098
Building and Improvements	477,057
Equipment and Furnishings	9,302
Construction in Progress	316
Total	654,773
Accumulated Depreciation	221,660
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	433,113
Fresno Fashion Fair
Initial Cost to Company
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	72,194
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	54,340
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	120,325
Equipment and Furnishings	2,940
Construction in Progress	3,269
Total	144,500
Accumulated Depreciation	64,776
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	79,724
Green Acres Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	156,640
Building and Improvements	321,034
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	197,842
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	179,274
Building and Improvements	474,189
Equipment and Furnishings	10,760
Construction in Progress	11,293
Total	675,516
Accumulated Depreciation	153,541
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	521,975
Inland Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,321
Building and Improvements	83,550
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	31,899
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,291
Building and Improvements	111,935
Equipment and Furnishings	388
Construction in Progress	1,156
Total	123,770
Accumulated Depreciation	28,801
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	94,969
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	282,891
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	209,041
Building and Improvements	683,575
Equipment and Furnishings	57,720
Construction in Progress	47,144
Total	997,480
Accumulated Depreciation	159,629
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	837,851
La Cumbre Plaza
Initial Cost to Company
Land	18,122
Building and Improvements	21,492
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	16,995
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	13,856
Building and Improvements	42,503
Equipment and Furnishings	250
Construction in Progress	0
Total	56,609
Accumulated Depreciation	25,292
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	31,317
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	30,591
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,878
Building and Improvements	18,430
Equipment and Furnishings	46,061
Construction in Progress	409
Total	68,778
Accumulated Depreciation	26,237
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	42,541
MACWH, LP
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	25,771
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,261
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,777
Building and Improvements	27,255
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	38,032
Accumulated Depreciation	11,253
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	26,779
NorthPark Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,746
Building and Improvements	74,661
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	14,074
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,441
Building and Improvements	88,405
Equipment and Furnishings	635
Construction in Progress	0
Total	96,481
Accumulated Depreciation	27,890
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	68,591
The Oaks
Initial Cost to Company
Land	32,300
Building and Improvements	117,156
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	268,674
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	56,387
Building and Improvements	357,559
Equipment and Furnishings	3,559
Construction in Progress	625
Total	418,130
Accumulated Depreciation	178,981
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	239,149
Pacific View
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,697
Building and Improvements	8,696
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	137,903
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,854
Building and Improvements	145,895
Equipment and Furnishings	1,547
Construction in Progress	0
Total	155,296
Accumulated Depreciation	80,778
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	74,518
Paradise Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	33,445
Building and Improvements	128,485
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	22,337
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	32,045
Building and Improvements	148,099
Equipment and Furnishings	2,638
Construction in Progress	1,485
Total	184,267
Accumulated Depreciation	88,056
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	96,211
Prasada Note
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,615
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	25,243
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,523
Building and Improvements	26,296
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	39
Total	31,858
Accumulated Depreciation	575
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	31,283
Queens Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	251,474
Building and Improvements	1,039,922
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	56,956
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	256,786
Building and Improvements	1,085,788
Equipment and Furnishings	5,616
Construction in Progress	162
Total	1,348,352
Accumulated Depreciation	182,761
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	1,165,591
Santa Monica Place
Initial Cost to Company
Land	26,400
Building and Improvements	105,600
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	351,922
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	48,374
Building and Improvements	428,615
Equipment and Furnishings	6,710
Construction in Progress	223
Total	483,922
Accumulated Depreciation	160,769
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	323,153
San Tan Adjacent Land
Initial Cost to Company
Land	29,414
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	9,510
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	26,902
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	12,022
Total	38,924
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	38,924
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	215,839
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,921
Building and Improvements	216,095
Equipment and Furnishings	1,622
Construction in Progress	28
Total	223,666
Accumulated Depreciation	107,764
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	115,902
Sears South Plains
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,170
Building and Improvements	11,130
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	0
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	19,300
Total	19,300
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	19,300
South Park Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,035
Building and Improvements	38,215
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(7,811)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,899
Building and Improvements	34,107
Equipment and Furnishings	433
Construction in Progress	0
Total	37,439
Accumulated Depreciation	16,689
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	20,750
Southridge Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,764
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	7,930
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,220
Building and Improvements	12,148
Equipment and Furnishings	136
Construction in Progress	190
Total	14,694
Accumulated Depreciation	7,410
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	7,284
Stonewood Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	4,948
Building and Improvements	302,527
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,811
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	4,935
Building and Improvements	314,948
Equipment and Furnishings	403
Construction in Progress	0
Total	320,286
Accumulated Depreciation	60,990
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	259,296
Superstition Springs Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	112,718
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,232
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	122,924
Equipment and Furnishings	1,026
Construction in Progress	0
Total	134,878
Accumulated Depreciation	27,914
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	106,964
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	(109)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,194
Building and Improvements	4,698
Equipment and Furnishings	37
Construction in Progress	0
Total	5,929
Accumulated Depreciation	2,268
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	3,661
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	4,860
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	7,365
Construction in Progress	29
Total	7,394
Accumulated Depreciation	1,515
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	5,879
Towne Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,652
Building and Improvements	31,184
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	4,988
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	6,877
Building and Improvements	35,480
Equipment and Furnishings	368
Construction in Progress	99
Total	42,824
Accumulated Depreciation	17,769
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	25,055
Tucson La Encantada
Initial Cost to Company
Land	12,800
Building and Improvements	19,699
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	59,230
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	12,800
Building and Improvements	78,230
Equipment and Furnishings	699
Construction in Progress	0
Total	91,729
Accumulated Depreciation	46,986
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	44,743
Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	16,045
Building and Improvements	26,098
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	13,772
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	15,616
Building and Improvements	40,014
Equipment and Furnishings	276
Construction in Progress	9
Total	55,915
Accumulated Depreciation	14,389
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	41,526
Valley River Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	147,715
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	34,936
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	180,572
Equipment and Furnishings	2,008
Construction in Progress	71
Total	207,505
Accumulated Depreciation	73,276
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	134,229
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	54,163
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	20,080
Building and Improvements	123,323
Equipment and Furnishings	1,690
Construction in Progress	0
Total	145,093
Accumulated Depreciation	62,683
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	82,410
Vintage Faire Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	14,902
Building and Improvements	60,532
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	58,719
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,417
Building and Improvements	113,564
Equipment and Furnishings	1,637
Construction in Progress	1,535
Total	134,153
Accumulated Depreciation	77,319
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	56,834
Wilton Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	19,743
Building and Improvements	67,855
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(2,351)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	11,310
Building and Improvements	72,734
Equipment and Furnishings	1,127
Construction in Progress	76
Total	85,247
Accumulated Depreciation	47,457
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	37,790
Other freestanding stores
Initial Cost to Company
Land	5,926
Building and Improvements	31,785
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,616
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,927
Building and Improvements	43,106
Equipment and Furnishings	294
Construction in Progress	0
Total	49,327
Accumulated Depreciation	22,556
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	26,771
Other land and development properties
Initial Cost to Company
Land	63,338
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(24,938)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	32,291
Building and Improvements	6,047
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	62
Total	38,400
Accumulated Depreciation	518
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	$ 37,882