CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (Units, USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Common distributions	2.48	3.175
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs		$ 670
Common units issued upon exercise of options	7,250	9,125
Restricted Units Granted, Net of Forfeitures	141,500	79,350
Issuance of GP Units		13,000
Issuance of LP Units		1,137,000
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	29,000	36,500
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures	566,000	317,400
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.6200	$ 0.7938
Number of Operating Partnership Units Exchanged for Company Common Shares	6,569,932	641,328
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Converted	1,642,483	160,332
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		4,600,000
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs		$ 670
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities		136,360