Unconsolidated Affiliates, Redeemable Interests, Noncontrolling Interests and Cost Method Investments (Unconsolidated Affiliates) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of entities - equity method of accounting | entity	17				17		17
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
ASSETS
Investment in real estate assets	$ 2,137,092				$ 2,137,092		$ 2,137,092		$ 2,357,902
Accumulated depreciation	(550,103)				(550,103)		(550,103)		(677,448)
Real estate investment net, before development in process	1,586,989				1,586,989		1,586,989		1,680,454
Held for sale	25,392				25,392		25,392		0
Developments in progress	28,995				28,995		28,995		59,592
Net investment in real estate assets	1,641,376				1,641,376		1,641,376		1,740,046
Other assets	229,516				229,516		229,516		168,540
Total assets	1,870,892				1,870,892		1,870,892		1,908,586
LIABILITIES
Mortgage and other indebtedness	1,278,160				1,278,160		1,278,160		1,546,272
Other liabilities	60,687				60,687		60,687		51,357
Total liabilities	1,338,847				1,338,847		1,338,847		1,597,629
OWNERS' EQUITY
The Company	241,892				241,892		241,892		184,868
Other investors	290,153				290,153		290,153		126,089
Total owners' equity	532,045				532,045		532,045		310,957
Total liabilities and owners' equity	1,870,892				1,870,892		1,870,892		1,908,586
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenues					59,104	$ 62,098	186,162	$ 187,681
Depreciation and amortization					(20,227)	(20,313)	(63,085)	(59,435)
Interest income					295	331	963	998
Interest expense					(14,281)	(18,616)	(41,951)	(55,999)
Operating expenses					(18,216)	(18,918)	(56,621)	(55,692)
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(393)	0	62,901	0
Income from continuing operations before gain on sales of real estate assets					6,282	4,582	88,369	17,553
Gain on sales of real estate assets					16,854	710	158,190	2,144
Net income					23,136	5,292	246,559	19,697
Long-term debt	$ 4,531,269				$ 4,531,269		$ 4,531,269		4,710,628
Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount									101,151
Ambassador Infrastructure, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 47,660
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	3.22%				3.22%		3.22%
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 47,660				$ 47,660		$ 47,660
Derivative, amount after amortization	38,866				38,866		38,866
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | Construction Loans
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 41,900				$ 41,900		$ 41,900
CBL/T-C, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
CBL-TRS Joint Venture, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 73,000
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	3.699%				3.699%		3.699%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 73,000				$ 73,000		$ 73,000
Derivative, amount after amortization	52,130				52,130		52,130
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | Construction Loans
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 71,125				$ 71,125		$ 71,125
G&I VIII CBL Triangle LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	10.00%				10.00%		10.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Debt instrument, option extension term (in years)							1 year
Number of extension options available | extension_option	2				2		2
Governor’s Square IB
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Governor’s Square Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	47.50%				47.50%		47.50%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date	8.23%				8.23%		8.23%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 14,089
JG Gulf Coast Town Center LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Kentucky Oaks Mall Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%	50.00%			50.00%		50.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date		5.27%
Principal Balance Repaid		$ 19,912
Mall of South Carolina L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Mall of South Carolina Outparcel L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Port Orange I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
River Ridge Mall JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	25.00%				25.00%		25.00%
West Melbourne I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
York Town Center, LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Port Orange
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 58,628
Port Orange | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Hammock Landing Phase I
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 43,347		$ 39,475
Hammock Landing Phase I | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Hammock Landing Phase II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 16,757
Hammock Landing Phase II | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 171,092
Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	4.00%				4.00%		4.00%		5.74%
Port Orange and Hammock Landing - Phase I and II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership			20.00%	25.00%
Debt instrument, option extension term (in years)							1 year
High Pointe Commons - Phase I
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date	5.74%				5.74%		5.74%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 12,401
High Pointe Commons - PetCo
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date	3.20%				3.20%		3.20%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 19
High Pointe Commons - Phase II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date	6.10%				6.10%		6.10%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 4,968
The Company/Partners' Capital
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenues					$ 27,427	32,660	$ 87,527	98,453
Depreciation and amortization					(10,756)	(10,734)	(29,090)	(31,354)
Interest income					207	255	719	767
Interest expense					(6,109)	(9,601)	(19,787)	(28,873)
Operating expenses					(8,112)	(9,638)	(25,295)	(28,511)
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(197)	0	(197)	0
Income from continuing operations before gain on sales of real estate assets					2,460	2,942	13,877	10,482
Gain on sales of real estate assets					8,018	566	93,340	1,730
Net income					$ 10,478	$ 3,508	107,217	$ 12,212
The Company/Partners' Capital | Governor’s Square Company
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 6,692
The Company/Partners' Capital | Kentucky Oaks Mall Company
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Principal Balance Repaid		$ 9,956
Corporate Joint Venture | G&I VIII CBL Triangle LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			90.00%
ASSETS
Land			$ 14,421
Buildings and improvements			132,230
Tenant improvements			1,206
Above-market leases			11,599
In-place leases			22,538
Below-market leases			(7,994)
Net assets acquired			174,000
Total assets			$ 181,994
Corporate Joint Venture | River Ridge Mall JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property										75.00%
Corporate Joint Venture | Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			50.00%
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							30,979
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							47,450
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Port Orange
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							29,314
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Hammock Landing Phase I
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							21,674
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Hammock Landing Phase II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							8,379
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 17,109