CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Total shareholders' equity [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Preferred shares [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Common shares [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Paid in capital [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Distributions in excess of earnings [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Noncontrolling interest in Operating Partnership [Member]	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc Noncontrolling interest in other consolidated partnerships [Member]	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership Total shareholders' equity [Member]	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership General Partner [Member]	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership Limited Partner [Member]	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Member]	Tanger Properties Limited Partnership Noncontrolling interest in other consolidated partnerships [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009											$ 521,063		$ 5,633	$ 522,425	$ (6,995)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		521,063	462,671	75,000	806	595,671	(202,997)	(5,809)	58,392
Comprehensive income:
Net income		23,148	20,660	0	0	0	20,660	0	2,488		23,148		194	22,954	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		8,793	7,637	0	0	0		7,637	1,156		8,793		0	0	8,793
Total comprehensive income		31,941	28,297	0	0	0	20,660	7,637	3,644		31,941		194	22,954	8,793
Compensation under Incentive Award Plan		4,224	4,224	0	0	4,224	0	0	0		4,224		0	4,224	0
Issuance of common units upon exercise of options											893		0	893	0
Grant of restricted units, net of forfeitures											(4,219)		0	(4,219)	0
Common distributions	(7,000)										(53,853)		(543)	(53,310)	0
Issuance of common shares upon exercise of options		893	893	0	0	893	0	0	0
Grant of restricted shares, net of forfeitures		0	0	0	4	(4)	0	0	0
Adjustment for noncotrolling interest in Operating Partnership		0	(376)	0	0	(376)	0	0	376
Preferred dividends		(4,219)	(4,219)	0	0	0	(4,219)	0	0
Common dividends		(46,831)	(46,831)	0	0	0	(46,831)	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnerships		(7,022)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(7,022)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010		500,049	444,659	75,000	810	600,408	(233,387)	1,828	55,390
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010											500,049		5,284	492,967	1,798
Balance at Jun. 30, 2010
Comprehensive income:
Net income		14,753									14,753
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(64)									(64)
Total comprehensive income		14,689									14,689
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010		500,049
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010											500,049
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010											421,895	421,895	5,221	414,926	1,748	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		421,895	366,929	810		604,359	(240,024)	1,784	54,966	0
Partners' Capital, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest											531,750
Comprehensive income:
Net income		35,851	31,284	0		0	31,284	0	4,569	(2)	35,851	35,853	368	35,485	0	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(307)	(268)	0		0	0	(268)	(39)	0	(307)	(307)	0	0	(307)	0
Total comprehensive income		35,544	31,016	0		0	31,284	(268)	4,530	(2)	35,544	35,546	368	35,485	(307)	(2)
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs		117,539	117,539	46		117,493	0	0	0	0
Compensation under Incentive Award Plan		5,458	5,458	0		5,458	0	0	0	0	5,458	5,458	0	5,458	0	0
Issuance of common units upon exercise of options											72	72	0	72	0	0
Issuance of common units net of issuance costs											117,539	117,539	0	117,539	0	0
Common distributions	(4,800)										(56,395)	(56,395)	(573)	(55,822)	0	0
Issuance of common shares upon exercise of options		72	72	1		71	0	0	0	0
Grant of restricted shares, net of forfeitures		0	0	3		(3)	0	0	0	0
Adjustment for noncotrolling interest in Operating Partnership		0	(9,051)	0		(9,051)	0	0	9,051	0
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest in other consolidated partnerships		7,637	0	0		(2)	2	0	0	7,637	7,637	0	0	0	0	7,637
Exchange of Operating Partnerships units for common shares		0	0	6		(6)	0	0	0	0
Issuance of common shares upon retirement of convertible bonds		0	0	1		(1)	0	0	0	0
Common dividends		(49,192)	(49,192)	0		0	(49,192)	0	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnerships		(7,203)	0	0		0	0	0	(7,203)	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011		531,750	462,771	867		718,318	(257,930)	1,516	61,344	7,635
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011											524,115	524,115	5,016	517,658	1,441	7,635
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011
Partners' Capital, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest											531,750
Comprehensive income:
Net income		14,192									14,192
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(190)									(190)
Total comprehensive income		14,002									14,002
Common distributions	(2,400)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011		531,750
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011											$ 524,115