Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 1,399,599
Total other comprehensive income	431
Ending Balance	1,399,368
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	433
OCI before reclassifications	3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(436)
Total other comprehensive income	(433)
Ending Balance	0
The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,935
OCI before reclassifications	814
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(2,749)
Total other comprehensive income	(1,935)
Ending Balance	0
Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(2,802)
OCI before reclassifications	60
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	2,742
Total other comprehensive income	2,802
Ending Balance	0
Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(434)
OCI before reclassifications	877
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(443)
Total other comprehensive income	434
Ending Balance	0
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,400,038
Total other comprehensive income	431
Ending balance	1,399,698
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership | Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests/Redeemable Common Units
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	434
OCI before reclassifications	3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(437)
Total other comprehensive income	(434)
Ending balance	0
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership | The Company/Partners' Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(868)
OCI before reclassifications	874
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(6)
Total other comprehensive income	868
Ending balance	0
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership | Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(434)
OCI before reclassifications	877
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(443)
Total other comprehensive income	434
Ending balance	$ 0