Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Initial Cost to Company
Land	$ 1,370,869
Building and Improvements	4,873,078
Equipment and Furnishings	46,574
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	2,557,029
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,441,858
Building and Improvements	6,992,006
Equipment and Furnishings	191,266	$ 194,231
Construction in Progress	222,420	153,253
Total	8,847,550	9,256,712	$ 8,993,049	$ 8,878,820
Accumulated Depreciation	2,563,344	$ 2,562,133	$ 2,349,536	$ 2,093,044
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	6,284,206
Chandler Fashion Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	223,143
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	32,631
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,188
Building and Improvements	246,967
Equipment and Furnishings	5,205
Construction in Progress	3,602
Total	279,962
Accumulated Depreciation	132,622
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	147,340
Danbury Fair Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	130,367
Building and Improvements	316,951
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	113,156
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	141,479
Building and Improvements	390,915
Equipment and Furnishings	10,124
Construction in Progress	17,956
Total	560,474
Accumulated Depreciation	171,291
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	389,183
Desert Sky Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	9,447
Building and Improvements	37,245
Equipment and Furnishings	12
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	6,543
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,082
Building and Improvements	41,232
Equipment and Furnishings	2,933
Construction in Progress	0
Total	53,247
Accumulated Depreciation	16,496
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	36,751
Eastland Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	22,050
Building and Improvements	151,605
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,990
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	20,810
Building and Improvements	162,693
Equipment and Furnishings	2,130
Construction in Progress	12
Total	185,645
Accumulated Depreciation	49,685
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	135,960
Fashion District Philadelphia
Initial Cost to Company
Land	38,402
Building and Improvements	293,112
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	6,262
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	39,962
Building and Improvements	296,775
Equipment and Furnishings	235
Construction in Progress	804
Total	337,776
Accumulated Depreciation	9,505
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	328,271
Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	275,149
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	40,575
Building and Improvements	228,900
Equipment and Furnishings	4,550
Construction in Progress	1,124
Total	275,149
Accumulated Depreciation	80,811
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	194,338
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	105,795
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	23,762
Building and Improvements	308,480
Equipment and Furnishings	2,183
Construction in Progress	90
Total	334,515
Accumulated Depreciation	108,446
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	226,069
The Marketplace at Flagstaff
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	45,855
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	45,855
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	45,855
Accumulated Depreciation	28,944
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	16,911
Freehold Raceway Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	164,986
Building and Improvements	362,841
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	126,120
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	168,098
Building and Improvements	476,181
Equipment and Furnishings	9,258
Construction in Progress	410
Total	653,947
Accumulated Depreciation	236,094
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	417,853
Fresno Fashion Fair
Initial Cost to Company
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	72,194
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	56,980
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,966
Building and Improvements	125,844
Equipment and Furnishings	3,091
Construction in Progress	239
Total	147,140
Accumulated Depreciation	69,798
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	77,342
Green Acres Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	156,640
Building and Improvements	321,034
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	190,705
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	177,378
Building and Improvements	458,349
Equipment and Furnishings	10,886
Construction in Progress	21,766
Total	668,379
Accumulated Depreciation	155,232
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	513,147
Inland Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,321
Building and Improvements	83,550
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	36,548
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,291
Building and Improvements	117,704
Equipment and Furnishings	380
Construction in Progress	44
Total	128,419
Accumulated Depreciation	34,449
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	93,970
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	277,854
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	205,012
Building and Improvements	676,363
Equipment and Furnishings	60,084
Construction in Progress	50,984
Total	992,443
Accumulated Depreciation	178,069
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	814,374
La Cumbre Plaza
Initial Cost to Company
Land	18,122
Building and Improvements	21,492
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	19,436
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	13,856
Building and Improvements	45,004
Equipment and Furnishings	190
Construction in Progress	0
Total	59,050
Accumulated Depreciation	26,776
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	32,274
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	27,857
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,878
Building and Improvements	17,942
Equipment and Furnishings	43,270
Construction in Progress	954
Total	66,044
Accumulated Depreciation	29,453
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	36,591
MACWH, LP
Initial Cost to Company
Land	0
Building and Improvements	25,771
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,461
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,777
Building and Improvements	27,455
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	0
Total	38,232
Accumulated Depreciation	11,964
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	26,268
NorthPark Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,746
Building and Improvements	74,661
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,350
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,076
Building and Improvements	85,985
Equipment and Furnishings	696
Construction in Progress	0
Total	93,757
Accumulated Depreciation	31,363
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	62,394
Oaks, The
Initial Cost to Company
Land	32,300
Building and Improvements	117,156
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	268,973
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	56,387
Building and Improvements	357,987
Equipment and Furnishings	3,558
Construction in Progress	497
Total	418,429
Accumulated Depreciation	194,018
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	224,411
Pacific View
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,697
Building and Improvements	8,696
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	137,922
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	7,854
Building and Improvements	145,911
Equipment and Furnishings	1,550
Construction in Progress	0
Total	155,315
Accumulated Depreciation	84,979
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	70,336
Prasada
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,615
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	23,373
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,114
Building and Improvements	26,445
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	429
Total	29,988
Accumulated Depreciation	2,337
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	27,651
Queens Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	251,474
Building and Improvements	1,039,922
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	54,263
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	256,786
Building and Improvements	1,082,404
Equipment and Furnishings	5,892
Construction in Progress	577
Total	1,345,659
Accumulated Depreciation	212,717
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	1,132,942
Santa Monica Place
Initial Cost to Company
Land	26,400
Building and Improvements	105,600
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	317,936
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	42,513
Building and Improvements	316,488
Equipment and Furnishings	6,624
Construction in Progress	84,311
Total	449,936
Accumulated Depreciation	124,540
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	325,396
SanTan Adjacent Land
Initial Cost to Company
Land	29,414
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	10,276
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	26,902
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	12,788
Total	39,690
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	39,690
SanTan Village Regional Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,827
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	219,174
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,921
Building and Improvements	219,354
Equipment and Furnishings	1,713
Construction in Progress	13
Total	227,001
Accumulated Depreciation	115,796
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	111,205
Sears South Plains
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,170
Building and Improvements	11,130
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	1,057
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	20,357
Total	20,357
Accumulated Depreciation	0
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	20,357
SouthPark Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	7,035
Building and Improvements	38,215
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(7,985)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,899
Building and Improvements	33,932
Equipment and Furnishings	434
Construction in Progress	0
Total	37,265
Accumulated Depreciation	17,796
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	19,469
Southridge Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,764
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	6,973
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,963
Building and Improvements	11,659
Equipment and Furnishings	115
Construction in Progress	0
Total	13,737
Accumulated Depreciation	7,788
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	5,949
Stonewood Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	4,948
Building and Improvements	302,527
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	13,158
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	4,935
Building and Improvements	315,115
Equipment and Furnishings	583
Construction in Progress	0
Total	320,633
Accumulated Depreciation	69,719
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	250,914
Superstition Springs Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	112,718
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	11,687
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	10,928
Building and Improvements	123,344
Equipment and Furnishings	1,061
Construction in Progress	0
Total	135,333
Accumulated Depreciation	32,155
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	103,178
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	(98)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,194
Building and Improvements	4,709
Equipment and Furnishings	37
Construction in Progress	0
Total	5,940
Accumulated Depreciation	2,415
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	3,525
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	5,969
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	0
Building and Improvements	1,138
Equipment and Furnishings	7,365
Construction in Progress	0
Total	8,503
Accumulated Depreciation	1,827
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	6,676
Towne Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,652
Building and Improvements	31,184
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	5,110
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	6,877
Building and Improvements	35,620
Equipment and Furnishings	350
Construction in Progress	99
Total	42,946
Accumulated Depreciation	18,746
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	24,200
Valley Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	16,045
Building and Improvements	26,098
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	12,675
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	14,506
Building and Improvements	40,064
Equipment and Furnishings	248
Construction in Progress	0
Total	54,818
Accumulated Depreciation	16,513
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	38,305
Valley River Center
Initial Cost to Company
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	147,715
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	35,224
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	24,854
Building and Improvements	180,766
Equipment and Furnishings	1,896
Construction in Progress	277
Total	207,793
Accumulated Depreciation	79,922
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	127,871
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	54,907
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	20,080
Building and Improvements	124,161
Equipment and Furnishings	1,596
Construction in Progress	0
Total	145,837
Accumulated Depreciation	66,260
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	79,577
Vintage Faire Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	14,902
Building and Improvements	60,532
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	59,758
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	17,417
Building and Improvements	114,524
Equipment and Furnishings	1,580
Construction in Progress	1,671
Total	135,192
Accumulated Depreciation	80,686
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	54,506
Wilton Mall
Initial Cost to Company
Land	19,743
Building and Improvements	67,855
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(3,052)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	11,310
Building and Improvements	72,044
Equipment and Furnishings	1,155
Construction in Progress	37
Total	84,546
Accumulated Depreciation	48,449
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	36,097
Other freestanding stores
Initial Cost to Company
Land	5,926
Building and Improvements	31,785
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(5,369)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	4,906
Building and Improvements	27,142
Equipment and Furnishings	294
Construction in Progress	0
Total	32,342
Accumulated Depreciation	14,584
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	17,758
Other land and development properties
Initial Cost to Company
Land	37,850
Building and Improvements	0
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	(21,594)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	6,322
Building and Improvements	6,555
Equipment and Furnishings	0
Construction in Progress	3,379
Total	16,256
Accumulated Depreciation	1,099
Total Cost Net of Accumulated Depreciation	$ 15,157