Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	May 05, 2017
Entity Information [Line Items]
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	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		171,096,104
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Entity Central Index Key	0000915140
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer