Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Equity-Based Compensation of the Operating Partnership (Equity-Based Compensation Expense) (Details)

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Equity-Based Compensation of the Operating Partnership (Equity-Based Compensation Expense) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Number of common shares each Operating Partnership unit is equivalent to 4  
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
   
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Equity-based compensation $ 2,482,000 $ 3,391,000
Total compensation cost not yet recognized 36,800,000  
Period of recognition 3 years 6 months 1 day  
Total fair value of restricted units vested during the period 9,600,000 7,900,000
Restricted Units [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
   
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Equity-based compensation 1,924,000 [1] 2,850,000 [1]
Restricted Units [Member] | Fully Vested [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
   
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Equity-based compensation   1,300,000
Number of restricted units granted to CEO   11,250
Notional Unit Performance Awards [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
   
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Equity-based compensation 506,000 489,000
Options [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
   
Equity-Based Compensation Expense by Award Type [Line Items]    
Equity-based compensation $ 52,000 $ 52,000
[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2012, includes approximately $1.3 million of compensation expense related to 11,250 units issued related to a restricted share grant that vested immediately upon grant under the terms of the Employment Agreement for Steven B. Tanger, our President and Chief Executive Officer.