Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Paid	$ 2,400		$ 4,800	$ 7,000
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction		275	743	1,100
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of Common Shares Received in Exhange for Partnership Units	641,328,000		641,328,000
Number of Shares to be Registered for Potential Exchange of Operating Partnership Units	12,133,220		12,133,220
Number of Common Shares Owned by CEO, if Operating Partnership Interests Were Exchanged	4,611,872		4,611,872
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Paid			$ 56,395	$ 53,853
Number of Partnership Units Exchanged for Common Shares	160,332		160,332
Number of Partnership Units Owned by Company CEO	1,152,968		1,152,968

Number of Common Shares Owned by CEO, if Operating Partnership Interests Were Exchanged

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Number of Common Shares Received in Exhange for Partnership Units by Family Limted Partners other than Steven Tanger

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Number of Partnership Units Exchanged for Common Shares by Family Limited Partners other than Steven Tanger

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Number of Partnership Units Owned by Company CEO

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Number of Shares to be Registered for Potential Exchange of Operating Partnership Units

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The amount of cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by a LLC or LP.

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Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 57

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

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-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

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