Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Beginning balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	$ (265)
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Cancellation of shares of restricted common stock	(1)	$ (97)
Performance stock units	93	390
Amortization of deferred compensation	304	633
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests		668
Ending balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	(478)
Total Shareholders' Equity
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Cancellation of shares of restricted common stock	(1)	(97)
Performance stock units	93	390
Amortization of deferred compensation	304	633
Noncontrolling Interests
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests		668
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership
Beginning balance, partners' capital	534,578	862,154
Beginning balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	(265)
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(28,067)	(138,136)
Other comprehensive income	3	22
Issuances of common units		536
Cancellation of shares of restricted common stock	(1)	(97)
Performance stock units	91	390
Amortization of deferred compensation	303	633
Allocation of partners' capital		(65)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests		668
Ending balance, partners' capital	506,896	725,374
Ending balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	(478)
Net loss	(28,067)	(138,136)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| CBL & Associates Limited Partnership Redeemable Common Units
Beginning balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	(265)	2,160
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(213)	(1,158)
Allocation of partners' capital		60
Ending balance of redeemable noncontrolling partnership interests	(478)	1,062
Net loss	(213)	(1,158)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance, partners' capital	18
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Other comprehensive income	3	22
Ending balance, partners' capital	21	22
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Total Shareholders' Equity
Beginning balance, partners' capital	531,520	838,193
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(27,248)	(137,929)
Other comprehensive income	3	22
Issuances of common units		536
Cancellation of shares of restricted common stock	(1)	(97)
Performance stock units	91	390
Amortization of deferred compensation	303	633
Allocation of partners' capital		(65)
Ending balance, partners' capital	504,668	701,683
Net loss	(27,248)	(137,929)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance, partners' capital	3,058	23,961
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(819)	(207)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests		668
Ending balance, partners' capital	2,228	23,691
Net loss	(819)	(207)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| General Partner
Beginning balance, partners' capital	(339)	2,765
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(277)	(1,406)
Performance stock units	4	4
Amortization of deferred compensation	3	18
Allocation of partners' capital		(1)
Adjustment to record redeemable interests at redemption value		(8)
Ending balance, partners' capital	(609)	1,372
Net loss	(277)	(1,406)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Limited Partner
Beginning balance, partners' capital	(33,371)	270,216
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss	(26,971)	(136,523)
Issuances of common units		536
Cancellation of shares of restricted common stock	(1)	(97)
Performance stock units	87	386
Amortization of deferred compensation	300	615
Allocation of partners' capital		(64)
Adjustment to record redeemable interests at redemption value		8
Ending balance, partners' capital	(59,956)	135,077
Net loss	(26,971)	(136,523)
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Preferred Units
Beginning balance, partners' capital	$ 565,212	$ 565,212
Beginning balance, partners' capital units (shares)	25,050,000	25,050,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Ending balance, partners' capital	$ 565,212	$ 565,212
Ending balance, partners' capital units (shares)	25,050,000	25,050,000
CBL & Associates Limited Partnership \| Common Units
Beginning balance, partners' capital units (shares)	201,688,000	200,189,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Issuance of common units (shares)		1,633,000
Cancellation of restricted common units (shares)	(111,000)	(116,000)
Ending balance, partners' capital units (shares)	201,577,000	201,706,000

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