Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Simon Property Group, L.P. Simon (Managing General Partner)	Simon Property Group, L.P. Limited Partners	Simon Property Group, L.P. Preferred Stock	Simon Property Group, L.P. Noncontrolling Interests	Simon Property Group, L.P.	Preferred Stock Series J Preferred stock	Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Deficit	Common Stock Held in Treasury	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015						$ 43,733	$ 31	$ (252,686)	$ 9,384,450	$ (4,266,930)	$ (437,134)	$ 744,905	$ 5,216,369
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 4,427,731	$ 741,449	$ 43,733	$ 3,456	$ 5,216,369
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exchange of limited partner units (92,729, 500,411 and 5,020,919 common shares respectively in 2018, 2017 and 2016, Note 10)							1		73,755			(73,756)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(328)		(328)	(328)							(328)
Limited partner units exchanged to units	73,756	(73,756)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 51,576 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017, 63,324 in 2016)									(14,139)		14,139
Amortization of stock incentive	12,024				12,024				12,024				12,024
Treasury stock purchase											(255,267)		(255,267)
Treasury unit purchase	(255,267)				(255,267)
Long-term incentive performance units												48,324	48,324
LTIP Units		48,324			48,324
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	1,889	(2)		1,508	3,395					6,189	(4,300)	1,506	3,395
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	66,996	(66,996)							66,996			(66,996)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(2,037,542)		(316,428)	(2,353,970)
Distributions to noncontrolling other interest holders												(2,765)	(2,765)
Distributions, excluding distributions on preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,034,205)	(316,428)	(3,337)	(2,765)	(2,356,735)
Other comprehensive income	138,560	25,080			163,640			138,560				25,080	163,640
Net income, excluding $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 attributable to preferred interests in the Operating Partnership during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $3,416, 2,078 and $4,301attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties in 2018, 2017 and 2016)	1,835,559	286,677	3,337	2,917	2,128,490					1,838,896		289,594	2,128,490
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016						43,405	32	(114,126)	9,523,086	(4,459,387)	(682,562)	649,464	4,959,912
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	4,267,043	644,348	43,405	5,116	4,959,912
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exchange of limited partner units (92,729, 500,411 and 5,020,919 common shares respectively in 2018, 2017 and 2016, Note 10)									6,005			(6,005)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(328)		(328)	(328)							(328)
Limited partner units exchanged to units	6,005	(6,005)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 51,576 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017, 63,324 in 2016)									(13,289)		13,289
Amortization of stock incentive	13,911				13,911				13,911				13,911
Treasury stock purchase											(407,002)		(407,002)
Treasury unit purchase	(407,002)				(407,002)
Long-term incentive performance units												38,305	38,305
LTIP Units		38,305			38,305
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	(42,036)	1		382	(41,653)				241	(39,489)	(2,788)	383	(41,653)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	84,794	(84,794)							84,794			(84,794)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(2,231,259)		(338,602)	(2,569,861)
Distributions to noncontrolling other interest holders												(3,851)	(3,851)
Distributions, excluding distributions on preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,227,922)	(338,602)	(3,337)	(3,851)	(2,573,712)
Other comprehensive income	3,673	592			4,265			3,673				592	4,265
Net income, excluding $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 attributable to preferred interests in the Operating Partnership during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $3,416, 2,078 and $4,301attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties in 2018, 2017 and 2016)	1,944,625	295,013	3,337	2,091	2,245,066					1,947,962		297,104	2,245,066
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017						43,077	32	(110,453)	9,614,748	(4,782,173)	(1,079,063)	552,596	4,238,764
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	3,643,091	548,858	43,077	3,738	4,238,764
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect of accounting change	7,264				7,264					7,264			7,264
Exchange of limited partner units (92,729, 500,411 and 5,020,919 common shares respectively in 2018, 2017 and 2016, Note 10)									1,004			(1,004)
Issuance of limited partner units (475,183 units)		84,103			84,103							84,103	84,103
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(329)		(329)	(329)							(329)
Limited partner units exchanged to units	1,004	(1,004)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 51,576 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017, 63,324 in 2016)									(8,651)		8,651
Redemption of limited partner units (454,704 units)	(76,555)	(4,951)			(81,506)				(76,555)			(4,951)	(81,506)
Amortization of stock incentive	12,029				12,029				12,029				12,029
Treasury stock purchase											(354,108)		(354,108)
Treasury unit purchase	(354,108)				(354,108)
Long-term incentive performance units												26,172	26,172
LTIP Units		26,172			26,172
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	(110,456)			(2,510)	(112,966)				1,602	(109,147)	(2,911)	(2,510)	(112,966)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	156,241	(156,241)							156,241			(156,241)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(2,449,071)		(370,656)	(2,819,727)
Distributions to noncontrolling other interest holders												(1,741)	(1,741)
Distributions, excluding distributions on preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,445,734)	(370,656)	(3,337)	(1,741)	(2,821,468)
Other comprehensive income	(15,564)	(2,447)			(18,011)			(15,564)				(2,447)	(18,011)
Net income, excluding $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 attributable to preferred interests in the Operating Partnership during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $3,416, 2,078 and $4,301attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties in 2018, 2017 and 2016)	2,436,721	369,043	3,337	7,911	2,817,012					2,440,058		376,954	2,817,012
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018						$ 42,748	$ 32	$ (126,017)	$ 9,700,418	$ (4,893,069)	$ (1,427,431)	$ 500,275	$ 3,796,956
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 3,253,933	$ 492,877	$ 42,748	$ 7,398	$ 3,796,956