Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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
Total revenue	$ 1,425,966	$ 1,357,168	$ 1,315,380	$ 1,336,715	$ 1,380,621	$ 1,320,137	$ 1,349,110	$ 1,216,235	$ 5,435,229	$ 5,266,103	$ 4,870,818
Operating income	700,501	676,191	659,236	684,901	709,730	657,587	702,385	599,171	2,720,828	2,668,873	2,385,342
Consolidated net income	455,602	587,940	527,325	563,839	459,917	492,496	554,526	632,435	2,134,706	2,139,375	1,651,526
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 per share - Basic and Diluted	$ 1.26	$ 1.61	$ 1.45	$ 1.55	$ 1.27	$ 1.36	$ 1.52	$ 1.73	$ 5.87	$ 5.88	$ 4.52
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
Simon Property Group L.P.
Total revenue									$ 5,435,229	$ 5,266,103	$ 4,870,818
Operating income									2,720,828	2,668,873	2,385,342
Consolidated net income									2,134,706	2,139,375	1,651,526
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 per share - Basic and Diluted	$ 1.26	$ 1.61	$ 1.45	$ 1.55	$ 1.27	$ 1.36	$ 1.52	$ 1.73	$ 5.87	$ 5.88	$ 4.52
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