Share-based Compensation of the Company Share-Based Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	$ 2,434,000	$ 1,840,000	$ 8,231,000		$ 5,458,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	27,000,000		27,000,000
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member] | Restricted Shares [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	1,886,000	1,410,000	6,600,000	[1]	3,942,000
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member] | Notional Unit Performance Awards [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	495,000	377,000	1,475,000		1,390,000
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member] | Options [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	53,000	53,000	156,000		126,000
Fully Vested [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Number of Restricted Common Shares Granted to Company CEO			45,000
Fully Vested [Member] | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member] | Restricted Shares [Member]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation by Award Type [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation			$ 1,300,000

[1] ncludes approximately $1.3 million of compensation expense related to 45,000 shares that vested immediately upon grant related to the Employment Agreement described above.