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Noncontrolling Interest Conversion, Calculation of Trailing Average of Trading Price, Term

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Number of Holders of Common Units

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Preferred Stock, Amount Represented by Depository Shares

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No definition available.

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Preferred Stock Depositary Shares Outstanding

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- Definition

Preferred Stock, Depository Shares Per Share Amounts of Preferred Dividends in Arrears

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference, Depositary Shares, Per Share

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Units Exercised for Conversion

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

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- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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- Definition

Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Section 50

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

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- Definition

The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section F

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- Definition

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The per share liquidation preference (or restrictions) of nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) that has a preference in involuntary liquidation considerably in excess of the par or stated value of the shares. The liquidation preference is the difference between the preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the share.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(d)(1))

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

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- Definition

Per share amount of cumulative preferred dividends in arrears.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

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- Definition

The number of shares issued during the period upon the conversion of units. An example of a convertible unit is an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust unit (UPREIT unit).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30, 31

-Article 5

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Number of new stock issued during the period.

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Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 unitholder	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Common Stock [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized	350,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized				350,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01				0.01
Common stock, shares outstanding	170,260,273us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding				170,048,144us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ 4,861	$ 3,965
Number of holders of common units who received cash for their units	4cbl_NumberofHoldersofCommonUnits
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, units exercised for conversion (shares)	272,952	12,690,628
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares		224,628
Stock issued following conversion of convertible securities		12,466,000
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	15,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized				15,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01				0.01
Common Stock [Member]
Common Stock [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized	350,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares outstanding	170,260,273				170,048,144
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Public offering, shares issued			6,530,193	1,889,105	8,419,298
Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01				0.01
Public offering, shares issued					6,900,000	6,900,000
Preferred stock represented by one depository share (in shares)	0.1				0.1
Dividend rate (in thousandths)	6.625%				6.625%	6.625%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share	$ 250
Depositary shares, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00
Dividends in arrears per depositary share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.65625
Dividends in arrears per share (in dollars per share)	$ 16.5625
7.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01				0.01
Preferred stock represented by one depository share (in shares)	0.1				0.1
Dividend rate (in thousandths)	7.375%				7.375%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share	$ 250
Depositary shares, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00
Dividends in arrears per depositary share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84375
Depositary shares outstanding	18,150,000				18,150,000
Dividends in arrears per share (in dollars per share)	$ 18.4375
Operating Partnership [Member]
Common Stock [Abstract]
Common units outstanding	199,532,908				199,593,731
Common Units [Member] \| Operating Partnership [Member]
Common Stock [Abstract]
Noncontrolling interest conversion, calculation of trailing average of trading price, term (days)	5 days