The number of properties owned via an International joint venture.

No definition available.

Name:	simon_InternationalJointVentureProperties
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of properties owned via a joint venture in which daily operations are managed by groups other than the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	simon_JointVenturePropertiesManagedByOthers
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of properties owned via a joint venture in which daily operations are managed by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	simon_JointVenturePropertiesManagedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of properties owned via a joint venture and accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	simon_JointVenturePropertiesNumber
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	simon_OwnershipInterestItemListAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the weighted average parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	simon_WeightedAverageMinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	simon_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=simon_EuropeanJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=simon_PremiumOutletsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=simon_SimonPropertyGroupIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=us-gaap_WhollyOwnedPropertiesMember
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Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=us-gaap_PartiallyOwnedPropertiesMember
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Basis of Presentation (Details) - property	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Details) - property	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate properties
Total number of joint venture properties	82
Number of joint venture properties managed by the entity	59
Number of International joint venture properties	20
Number of joint venture properties managed by others	23
European Joint Venture \| Premium Outlets
Real estate properties
Number of properties	6
Simon Property Group, Inc
Ownership interest:
Weighted average ownership percentage in the Operating Partnership	85.60%	85.50%
Ownership percentage in the Operating Partnership	85.70%		85.50%
Wholly owned properties
Real estate properties
Number of properties	135
Partially owned properties
Real estate properties
Number of properties	13