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, 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 (24,000, 92,732 and 500,411 common shares respectively in 2019, 2018 and 2017, Note 8)									6,005			(6,005)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(328)		(328)	(328)							(328)
Limited partner units exchanged to common units (24,000. 92,732, and 500,411 units) for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	6,005	(6,005)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 90,902 in 2019, 51,756 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017 respectively)									(13,289)		13,289
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 90,902 in 2019, 51,756 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017 respectively)		38,305			38,305
Amortization of stock incentive	13,911				13,911				13,911				13,911
Treasury stock purchase (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 shares in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)											(407,002)		(407,002)
Treasury unit purchase (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 units in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(407,002)				(407,002)
Long-term incentive performance units												38,305	38,305
Issuance of unit equivalents and other (16,336, 18,680 and 16,161 common shares repurchased in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(42,036)	1		382	(41,653)				241	(39,489)	(2,788)	383	(41,653)
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedge activities	(30,505)	(4,607)			(35,112)			(30,505)				(4,607)	(35,112)
Currency translation adjustments	39,726	6,040			45,766			39,726				6,040	45,766
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	4,987	746			5,733			4,987				746	5,733
Net loss (gain) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	(10,535)	(1,587)			(12,122)			(10,535)				(1,587)	(12,122)
Other comprehensive income	3,673	592			4,265			3,673				592	4,265
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 other noncontrolling interest partners												(3,851)	(3,851)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,227,922)	(338,602)	(3,337)	(3,851)	(2,573,712)
Net Income (Loss), Excluding Amount Attributable to Preferred Interests in Operating Partnership And Noncontrollling Redeemable Interests										1,947,962		297,104	2,245,066
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 and a ($431), $3,416 and ($2,078) income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	1,944,625	295,013	3,337	2,091	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 (24,000, 92,732 and 500,411 common shares respectively in 2019, 2018 and 2017, Note 8)									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 common units (24,000. 92,732, and 500,411 units) for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	1,004	(1,004)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 90,902 in 2019, 51,756 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017 respectively)									(8,651)		8,651
Redemption of limited partner units ( 43,255 and 454,704 units in 2019 and 2018 respectively)	(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 (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 shares in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)											(354,108)		(354,108)
Treasury unit purchase (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 units in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(354,108)				(354,108)
Long-term incentive performance units		26,172			26,172							26,172	26,172
Issuance of unit equivalents and other (16,336, 18,680 and 16,161 common shares repurchased in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(110,456)			(2,510)	(112,966)				1,602	(109,147)	(2,911)	(2,510)	(112,966)
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedge activities	18,781	2,852			21,633			18,781				2,852	21,633
Currency translation adjustments	(40,766)	(6,271)			(47,038)			(40,766)				(6,271)	(47,038)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	324	49			373			324				49	373
Net loss (gain) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	6,097	923			7,020			6,097				923	7,020
Other comprehensive income	(15,564)	(2,447)			(18,011)			(15,564)				(2,447)	(18,011)
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 other noncontrolling interest partners												(1,741)	(1,741)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,445,734)	(370,656)	(3,337)	(1,741)	(2,821,468)
Net Income (Loss), Excluding Amount Attributable to Preferred Interests in Operating Partnership And Noncontrollling Redeemable Interests										2,440,058		376,954	2,817,012
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 and a ($431), $3,416 and ($2,078) income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	2,436,721	369,043	3,337	7,911	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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exchange of limited partner units (24,000, 92,732 and 500,411 common shares respectively in 2019, 2018 and 2017, Note 8)									253			(253)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(328)		(328)	(328)							(328)
Limited partner units exchanged to common units (24,000. 92,732, and 500,411 units) for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	253	(253)
Stock incentive program (common shares, net: 90,902 in 2019, 51,756 in 2018, 76,660 in 2017 respectively)									(16,589)		16,589
Redemption of limited partner units ( 43,255 and 454,704 units in 2019 and 2018 respectively)	(6,453)	(393)			(6,846)				(6,453)			(393)	(6,846)
Amortization of stock incentive	12,604				12,604				12,604				12,604
Treasury stock purchase (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 shares in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)											(359,773)		(359,773)
Treasury unit purchase (2,247,074, 2,275,194 and 2,468,630 units in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(359,773)				(359,773)
Long-term incentive performance units		20,749			20,749							20,749	20,749
Issuance of unit equivalents and other (16,336, 18,680 and 16,161 common shares repurchased in 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively)	(32,460)			139	(32,321)				19	(29,523)	(2,956)	139	(32,321)
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedge activities	(3,553)	(513)			(4,066)			(3,553)				(513)	(4,066)
Currency translation adjustments	(1,489)	(361)			(1,850)			(1,489)				(361)	(1,850)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	623	95			718			623				95	718
Net loss (gain) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	11,832	1,802			13,634			11,832				1,802	13,634
Other comprehensive income	7,413	1,023			8,436			7,413				1,023	8,436
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	65,821	(65,821)							65,821			(65,821)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(2,558,944)		(388,541)	(2,947,485)
Distributions to other noncontrolling interest partners												(2,446)	(2,446)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(2,555,607)	(388,541)	(3,337)	(2,446)	(2,949,931)
Net Income (Loss), Excluding Amount Attributable to Preferred Interests in Operating Partnership And Noncontrollling Redeemable Interests										2,101,584		320,120	2,421,704
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $1,915, $1,915 and $1,915 and a ($431), $3,416 and ($2,078) income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively	2,098,247	318,698	3,337	1,422	2,421,704
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019						$ 42,420	$ 32	$ (118,604)	$ 9,756,073	$ (5,379,952)	$ (1,773,571)	$ 384,852	$ 2,911,250
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 2,483,978	$ 378,339	$ 42,420	$ 6,513	$ 2,911,250