Share-based Compensation of the Company Share-Based Compensation Expense (Details) (Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Units years	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	$ 1,840,000	$ 1,542,000	$ 5,458,000	$ 4,224,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	21,400,000		21,400,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition			3.4
Restricted Shares [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	1,410,000	1,024,000	3,942,000	2,988,000
Notional Unit Performance Awards [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	377,000	518,000	1,390,000	1,236,000
Options [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	$ 53,000	$ 0	$ 126,000	$ 0