Guarantor Disclosure - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	$ 10,196,730
Investment in subsidiaries	0
Other assets, net	939,242
Total assets	11,135,972
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	3,407,226	$ 1,642,420
Other liabilities	964,243
Total liabilities	4,371,469
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	6,731,349
Shareholders' Equity	6,764,503	2,624,502	$ 2,082,373	$ 2,082,620
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	33,154
Total liabilities and equity	11,135,972
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	(7,082)
Investment in subsidiaries	(15,664,474)
Other assets, net	(683,279)
Total assets	(16,354,835)
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	(669,118)
Other liabilities	(21,243)
Total liabilities	(690,361)
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	(15,629,257)
Shareholders' Equity	(15,664,474)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(35,217)
Total liabilities and equity	(16,354,835)
Regency Centers, L.P. [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	381,691
Investment in subsidiaries	8,899,971
Other assets, net	278,521
Total assets	9,560,183
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	2,683,728
Other liabilities	111,952
Total liabilities	2,795,680
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	6,729,286
Shareholders' Equity	6,764,503
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	35,217
Total liabilities and equity	9,560,183
Regency Centers Corporation [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	0
Investment in subsidiaries	6,764,503
Other assets, net	501,581
Total assets	7,266,084
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	500,000
Other liabilities	1,581
Total liabilities	501,581
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	6,731,349
Shareholders' Equity	6,764,503
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	33,154
Total liabilities and equity	7,266,084
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	2,848,920
Investment in subsidiaries	0
Other assets, net	281,315
Total assets	3,130,235
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	93,153
Other liabilities	284,717
Total liabilities	377,870
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	2,752,365
Shareholders' Equity	2,752,365
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Total liabilities and equity	3,130,235
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net real estate investments	6,973,201
Investment in subsidiaries	0
Other assets, net	561,104
Total assets	7,534,305
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	799,463
Other liabilities	587,236
Total liabilities	1,386,699
Stockholders Equity, excluding portion attributable to non controlling interest	6,147,606
Shareholders' Equity	6,147,606
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Total liabilities and equity	7,534,305
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total notes payable and unsecured credit facilities	2,749,202	$ 1,363,925
Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Equity One Term Loan1 [Member] | Equity One Inc. [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	$ 300,000