Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net income attributable to Taubman Centers, Inc. common shareowners (Numerator):
Basic									$ 109,020	$ 863,857	$ 109,908
Impact of additional ownership of TRG									398	10,933	497
Diluted									$ 109,418	$ 874,790	$ 110,405
Shares (Denominator) – basic									61,389,113	63,267,800	63,591,523
Effect of dilutive securities									772,221	1,653,264	983,889
Shares (Denominator) – diluted									62,161,334	64,921,064	64,575,412
Earnings per common share – basic	$ 0.43	$ 0.50	$ 0.38	$ 0.47	$ 6.94	$ 0.53	$ 0.34	$ 5.84	$ 1.78	$ 13.65	$ 1.73
Earnings per common share – diluted	$ 0.42	$ 0.50	$ 0.37	$ 0.47	$ 6.86	$ 0.53	$ 0.33	$ 5.74	$ 1.76	$ 13.47	$ 1.71
Weighted average noncontrolling partnership units outstanding
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive effect (in shares)									4,029,934	4,351,727	4,428,624
Unissued partnership units under unit option deferral elections
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive effect (in shares)									871,262		871,262