Shareholders' Equity of the Company Exchange of Operating Partnership Units for Company Common Shares (Details) (Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012 Units OperatingPartnershipUnits
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Partnership Units Owned by Family Limited Partners	1,330,440
Number of Operating Partnership Units Exchanged for Company Common Shares	6,170,132
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Converted	1,542,533
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Units	6,170,132
Potential Number of Common Shares to be Issued Upon Conversion of Operating Units	5,321,760

The number of units converted into shares of each class of partners' capital account. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References+ Details

The number of shares issued during the period upon the conversion of units. An example of a convertible unit is an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust unit (UPREIT unit).

+ References

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

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

+ Details