CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Common distributions (in dollars per share)	1.74	3.32
Common units issued upon exercise of options (in shares)	4,400	9,425
Restricted units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	84,343	141,500
Issuance of partnership units	450,576
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member]
Issuance of common shares upon exercise of options (in shares)	17,600	37,700
Grant of restricted shares, net of forfeitures (in shares)	337,373	566,000
Dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.66	$ 0.8300
Exchange of Operating Partnership units for common shares (in shares)	67,428	6,730,028
Common shares issued in exchange for Operating Partnership units (in shares)	67,428	6,730,028
Issuance of partnership units	450,576