Share-based Compensation of the Company Option Activity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value	$ 716	$ 652	$ 1,700
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number	215,800	261,200
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 22.16	$ 20.92
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 5 months 29 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 0.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	(37,700)	(36,500)	(129,100)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.74
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period	(7,700)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 26.06
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 2 months 11 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	2,583
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number	182,762
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 21.46
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	2,316
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	81,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 15.67
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3 years 8 months 27 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	$ 1,495
Service Condition [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting Period of Restricted Shares Granted to Company CEO	5 years

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