Total amount available under the debt instrument

No definition available.

Name:	cbl_DebtInstrumentMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Period of Extension Option

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Weighted Average Remaining Term to Maturity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of extension options available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cbl_NumberOfExtensionOptionsAvailable
Namespace Prefix:	cbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

+ 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=cbl_OutletShoppesatOklahomaCityPhaseIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=cbl_VariableRateDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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MORTGAGE AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS (Variable Rate Loans Financed) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) extension_option	Dec. 31, 2015 extension_option
Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, Phase II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extension option, term (years)	1 year
Amount Financed \| $	$ 6,000
Number of one-year extension options available	2
Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, Phase II [Member] \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (percent)	2.75%
Variable Rate Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining term to maturity (years)		3 years 1 month 31 days
Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of one-year extension options available		1
Minimum \| Variable Rate Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest, percentage rate		2.22%
Maximum \| Variable Rate Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest, percentage rate		3.15%
Extension option, term (years)		2 years