Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 02, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000910612
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		161,028,146
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,573,793,922