Equity - Shares or Units Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2021	Feb. 11, 2019	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Equity
Redemption of units			316	116,072
Exchange of limited partner units, (in shares)				132,946
Common stock authorized for repurchase		$ 2,000,000
Period common stock is authorized to repurchase		2 years
Shares repurchased (in shares)				1,245,654
Average share price repurchased (in dollars per share)				$ 122.50
Common stock dividends paid (in dollars per share)			$ 1.30	$ 2.10
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.30
Simon Property Group, L.P.
Equity
Redemption of units			316	116,072
Distributions paid per unit (in dollars per unit)			$ 1.30	$ 2.10
Simon Property Group, L.P. | Limited Partners
Equity
Redemption of units			316
Value of units redeemed			$ 40