Partners' Equity of the Operating Partnership (Details) (Tanger Properties Limited Partnership)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership
Schedule of Partners' Equity of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	250,000,000	237,000,000
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	24,304,887,000	23,045,322,000
Partners' Capital Account, Units	24,554,887,000	23,282,322,000