Equity-Based Compensation of the Operating Partnership (Restricted Unit Activity) (Details) (Restricted Units [Member], Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member])	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Units
Restricted Units [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Schedule of Restricted Unit Activity [Line Items]
Unvested at December 31, 2012	261,998
Granted	87,343
Vested	(72,350)
Forfeited	(3,000)
Unvested at March 31, 2013	273,991
Unvested at December 31, 2012 (in dollars per share)	97.56
Granted (in dollars per share)	124.04
Vested (in dollars per share)	89.40
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	102.44
Unvested at March 31, 2013 (in dollars per share)	108.12