Per Share and Per Unit Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Per Share And Per Unit Data
Net Income attributable to common stockholders or unitholders		$ 394,431	$ 504,744	$ 455,389	$ 480,995	$ 392,297	$ 420,009	$ 472,944	$ 539,134	$ 1,835,559	$ 1,824,383	$ 1,405,251
Net Income attributable to Common Stockholders — Diluted										$ 1,835,559	$ 1,824,383	$ 1,405,251
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted		313,684,810	314,234,418	313,399,467	309,416,266	309,418,757	309,417,298	310,498,911	311,101,297	312,690,756	310,102,746	310,731,032
Dividends
Total dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)										$ 6.50	$ 6.05	$ 5.15
Percent taxable as ordinary income										99.70%	94.30%	100.00%
Percent taxable as long-term capital gains										0.30%	5.70%	0.00%
Total percentage of dividends paid										100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75
Simon Property Group L.P.
Per Share And Per Unit Data
Net Income attributable to common stockholders or unitholders		$ 453,726	$ 581,266	$ 525,447	$ 561,797	$ 457,759	$ 490,344	$ 552,604	$ 630,432	$ 2,122,236	$ 2,131,139	$ 1,643,783
Net Income attributable to Common Stockholders — Diluted										$ 2,122,236	$ 2,131,139	$ 1,643,783
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted		361,186,785	361,764,112	361,761,991	361,394,591	361,234,804	361,234,111	362,762,067	363,784,004	361,526,633	362,244,154	363,475,504