Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Net income attributable to Taubman Centers, Inc. common shareowners (Numerator):
Basic	$ 34,718	$ 23,230	$ 59,331	$ 52,852
Impact of additional ownership of TRG	61	91	129	196
Diluted	$ 34,779	$ 23,321	$ 59,460	$ 53,048
Shares (Denominator) – basic	60,353,080	61,606,563	60,314,042	62,319,211
Effect of dilutive securities	348,622	779,479	432,309	837,491
Shares (Denominator) – diluted	60,701,702	62,386,042	60,746,351	63,156,702
Earnings per common share – basic	$ 0.58	$ 0.38	$ 0.98	$ 0.85
Earnings per common share – diluted	$ 0.57	$ 0.37	$ 0.98	$ 0.84
Weighted average noncontrolling partnership units outstanding
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,991,862	4,043,824	3,997,919	4,096,487
Unissued partnership units under unit option deferral elections
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	871,262	871,262	871,262	871,262