Number of real estate properties damaged during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	spg_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesDamaged
Namespace Prefix:	spg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of aggregate cash inflow for proceeds from settlement of insurance claim.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spg_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	spg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from insurance settlement used for property restoration and remediation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spg_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementUsedForPropertyRestorationAndRemediation
Namespace Prefix:	spg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow for proceeds from settlement of insurance claim, classified as investing activities. Excludes insurance settlement classified as operating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=SL94080549-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_PR
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=us-gaap_WhollyOwnedPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_LossFromCatastrophesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Hurricane Impacts (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 property	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Hurricane Impact
Insurance proceeds recorded as business interruption			$ 16,160
PUERTO RICO \| Wholly owned properties \| Loss from Catastrophes
Hurricane Impact
Number of properties significantly damaged \| property		2
Impairment of real estate	$ 19,000
Total insurance proceeds received			50,300
Insurance proceeds received and used for property restoration and remediation			33,300
Insurance proceeds recorded as business interruption			$ 17,000