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	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, 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 (132,946 and 24,000 common shares respectively in three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, Note 8)									253			(253)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(82)		(82)	(82)							(82)
Limited partner units exchanged to common units (132,946 and 24,000 units) for three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	253	(253)
Redemption of limited partner units (116,072 and 774 units respectively in three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019)	(127)	(8)			(135)				(127)			(8)	(135)
Amortization of stock incentive	1,309				1,309				1,309				1,309
Treasury stock purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)											(7,628)		(7,628)
Treasury unit purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)	(7,628)				(7,628)
Long-term incentive performance units		3,701			3,701							3,701	3,701
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	(1,756)	(2)			(1,758)				1	(1,507)	(250)	(2)	(1,758)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities	8,115	1,227			9,342			8,115				1,227	9,342
Currency translation adjustments	(4,130)	(614)			(4,744)			(4,130)				(614)	(4,744)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	125	19			144			125				19	144
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	945	143			1,088			945				143	1,088
Other comprehensive income	5,055	775			5,830			5,055				775	5,830
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	4,167	(4,167)							4,167			(4,167)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(634,222)		(96,010)	(730,232)
Distributions to other noncontrolling interest partners												(552)	(552)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(633,388)	(96,010)	(834)	(552)	(730,784)
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $479, $608 and $1,065 loss attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	548,475	83,076	834	148	632,533					549,309		83,224	632,533
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019						42,666	32	(120,962)	9,706,021	(4,979,489)	(1,435,309)	486,983	3,699,942
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	3,170,293	479,989	42,666	6,994	3,699,942
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
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities					2,320								2,320
Currency translation adjustments					(8,368)								(8,368)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other					683								683
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings					2,174								2,174
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019						42,584	32	(128,743)	9,723,378	(5,122,281)	(1,595,305)	444,007	3,363,672
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	2,877,081	436,973	42,584	7,034	3,363,672
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019						42,666	32	(120,962)	9,706,021	(4,979,489)	(1,435,309)	486,983	3,699,942
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	3,170,293	479,989	42,666	6,994	3,699,942
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(82)		(82)	(82)							(82)
Stock incentive program (1,081, 155,610 and 89,368 common shares, net)									(16,340)		16,340
Amortization of stock incentive	5,098				5,098				5,098				5,098
Treasury stock purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)											(173,630)		(173,630)
Treasury unit purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)	(173,630)				(173,630)
Long-term incentive performance units		7,721			7,721							7,721	7,721
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	(7,960)	1		69	(7,890)				11	(5,265)	(2,706)	70	(7,890)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities	(6,113)	(909)			(7,022)			(6,113)				(909)	(7,022)
Currency translation adjustments	(3,078)	(545)			(3,623)			(3,078)				(545)	(3,623)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	468	71			539			468				71	539
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	942	144			1,086			942				144	1,086
Other comprehensive income	(7,781)	(1,239)			(9,020)			(7,781)				(1,239)	(9,020)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	28,588	(28,588)							28,588			(28,588)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(633,686)		(95,977)	(729,663)
Distributions to other noncontrolling interest partners												(455)	(455)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(632,851)	(95,977)	(835)	(455)	(730,118)
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $479, $608 and $1,065 loss attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	495,324	75,066	835	426	571,651					496,159		75,492	571,651
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019						42,584	32	(128,743)	9,723,378	(5,122,281)	(1,595,305)	444,007	3,363,672
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	2,877,081	436,973	42,584	7,034	3,363,672
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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exchange of limited partner units (132,946 and 24,000 common shares respectively in three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, Note 8)									1,076			(1,076)
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(82)		(82)	(82)							(82)
Limited partner units exchanged to common units (132,946 and 24,000 units) for three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	1,076	(1,076)
Redemption of limited partner units (116,072 and 774 units respectively in three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019)	(15,127)	(940)			(16,067)				(15,127)			(940)	(16,067)
Amortization of stock incentive	1,891				1,891				1,891				1,891
Treasury stock purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)											(152,589)		(152,589)
Treasury unit purchase (1,245,654, 46,377 and 1,046,580 shares in three months ended March 31, 2020, 2019 and June 2019 respectively)	(152,589)				(152,589)
Long-term incentive performance units		4,987			4,987							4,987	4,987
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	3,316			26	3,342				29	3,287		26	3,342
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities	19,510	2,963			22,473			19,510				2,963	22,473
Currency translation adjustments	(20,505)	(3,099)			(23,604)			(20,505)				(3,099)	(23,604)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	715	109			824			715				109	824
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	(417)	(63)			(480)			(417)				(63)	(480)
Other comprehensive income	(697)	(90)			(787)			(697)				(90)	(787)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	24,233	(24,233)							24,233			(24,233)
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(645,259)		(98,099)	(743,358)
Distributions to other noncontrolling interest partners												(3,167)	(3,167)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(644,425)	(98,099)	(834)	(3,167)	(746,525)
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $479, $608 and $1,065 loss attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	437,605	66,658	834	436	505,533					438,439		67,094	505,533
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020						42,338	32	(119,301)	9,768,175	(5,583,485)	(1,926,160)	329,354	2,510,953
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	2,139,261	325,546	42,338	3,808	2,510,953
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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities					(1,859)								(1,859)
Currency translation adjustments					(39,508)								(39,508)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other					272								272
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings					(958)								(958)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020						42,256	32	(155,126)	9,763,059	(5,703,183)	(1,917,698)	306,099	2,335,439
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	1,987,084	302,242	42,256	3,857	2,335,439
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020						42,338	32	(119,301)	9,768,175	(5,583,485)	(1,926,160)	329,354	2,510,953
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	2,139,261	325,546	42,338	3,808	2,510,953
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Series J preferred stock premium amortization			(82)		(82)	(82)							(82)
Stock incentive program (1,081, 155,610 and 89,368 common shares, net)									(9,317)		9,317
Amortization of stock incentive	4,969				4,969				4,969				4,969
Long-term incentive performance units		3,229			3,229							3,229	3,229
Issuance of unit equivalents and other	22,899	(2)			22,897				1	23,753	(855)	(2)	22,897
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedging activities	(21,116)	(3,216)			(24,332)			(21,116)				(3,216)	(24,332)
Currency translation adjustments	(13,815)	(2,088)			(15,904)			(13,815)				(2,088)	(15,904)
Changes in available-for-sale securities and other	(479)	(73)			(552)			(479)				(73)	(552)
Net (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings	(415)	(63)			(478)			(415)				(63)	(478)
Other comprehensive income	(35,825)	(5,440)			(41,265)			(35,825)				(5,440)	(41,265)
Adjustment to limited partners' interest from change in ownership in the Operating Partnership	(769)	769							(769)			769
Distributions to common stockholders and limited partners, excluding Operating Partnership preferred interests										(398,499)		(60,510)	(459,009)
Distributions to other noncontrolling interest partners												(244)	(244)
Distributions to limited partners, excluding preferred interests classified as temporary equity	(397,664)	(60,510)	(835)	(244)	(459,253)
Net income, excluding preferred distributions on temporary equity preferred units of $479, $608 and $1,065 loss attributable to noncontrolling redeemable interests in properties for March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively	254,213	38,650	835	293	293,991					255,048		38,943	293,991
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020						$ 42,256	$ 32	$ (155,126)	$ 9,763,059	$ (5,703,183)	$ (1,917,698)	$ 306,099	$ 2,335,439
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 1,987,084	$ 302,242	$ 42,256	$ 3,857	$ 2,335,439