Guarantor Disclosure - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 196,131
Equity in subsidiaries	0
Total costs and expenses	200,451
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	4,320
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	(28,251)
Noncontrolling interest	(652)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	(33,223)
Net income	(20,715)	$ 53,577
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,620	$ (14,368)
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	0
Equity in subsidiaries	(47,220)
Total costs and expenses	(125)
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	47,095
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	11,731
Noncontrolling interest	671
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	(34,693)
Regency Centers, L.P. [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	6,646
Equity in subsidiaries	67,935
Total costs and expenses	87,293
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	12,712
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	(19,859)
Noncontrolling interest	(671)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	(33,242)
Regency Centers Corporation [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	0
Equity in subsidiaries	(20,715)
Total costs and expenses	0
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	20,715
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	(11,856)
Noncontrolling interest	(652)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	(33,223)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	17,958
Equity in subsidiaries	0
Total costs and expenses	13,605
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	(4,353)
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	(329)
Noncontrolling interest	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	4,024
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Total revenue	171,527
Equity in subsidiaries	0
Total costs and expenses	99,678
Income before other income and expense and income taxes	(71,849)
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships	(7,938)
Noncontrolling interest	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 63,911