Debt Summary of Total Secured Notes Payable Outstanding (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, total		$ 1,047,028
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance		447,028	$ 584,002
Unamortized fair value adjustment		(1,347)	(4,259)
Debt issuance costs, net		(501)	(743)
Notes payable, total		$ 445,180	579,000
Number of year amortization schedule		30 years
Debt issuance costs, accumulated amortization		$ 1,029	1,649
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | First & Main
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1],[2]	$ 0	84,500
Stated Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Jul. 01, 2016
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Imperial Beach Gardens
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1],[3]	$ 0	20,000
Stated Maturity Date	[1],[3]	Sep. 01, 2016
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Mariner's Point
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1],[3]	$ 0	7,700
Stated Maturity Date	[1],[3]	Sep. 01, 2016
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | South Bay Marketplace
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1],[4]	$ 0	23,000
Stated Maturity Date	[1],[4]	Feb. 10, 2017
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Waikiki Beach Walk - Retail
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1]	$ 130,310	130,310
Stated Interest Rate	[1]	5.39%
Stated Maturity Date	[1]	Jul. 01, 2017
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Solana Beach Corporate Centre III-IV
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[5]	$ 35,440	35,920
Stated Interest Rate	[5]	6.39%
Stated Maturity Date	[5]	Aug. 01, 2017
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Loma Palisades
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1]	$ 73,744	73,744
Stated Interest Rate	[1]	6.09%
Stated Maturity Date	[1]	Jul. 01, 2018
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | One Beach Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1]	$ 21,900	21,900
Stated Interest Rate	[1]	3.94%
Stated Maturity Date	[1]	Apr. 01, 2019
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Torrey Reserve - North Court
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[5]	$ 20,399	20,749
Stated Interest Rate	[5]	7.22%
Stated Maturity Date	[5]	Jun. 01, 2019
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Torrey Reserve-VCI, VCII, VCIII
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[5]	$ 6,884	6,995
Stated Interest Rate	[5]	6.36%
Stated Maturity Date	[5]	Jun. 01, 2020
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Solana Beach Corporate Centre I-II
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[5]	$ 10,927	11,119
Stated Interest Rate	[5]	5.91%
Stated Maturity Date	[5]	Jun. 01, 2020
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | Solana Beach Towne Centre
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[5]	$ 36,424	37,065
Stated Interest Rate	[5]	5.91%
Stated Maturity Date	[5]	Jun. 01, 2020
Secured notes payable | American Assets Trust, L.P. | City Center Bellevue
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured notes payable, Principal Balance	[1]	$ 111,000	$ 111,000
Stated Interest Rate	[1]	3.98%
Stated Maturity Date	[1]	Nov. 01, 2022

[1] Interest only.

[2] Loan repaid in full, without premium or penalty, on March 1, 2016.

[3] Loan repaid in full, without premium or penalty, on June 1, 2016.

[4] Loan repaid in full, without premium or penalty, on October 10, 2016.

[5] Principal payments based on a 30-year amortization schedule.