Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Partners' Equity of the Operating Partnership (Details)

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Partners' Equity of the Operating Partnership (Details) - Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member] - shares
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
General and Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units [Roll Forward]      
General partner (in shares) 1,000,000    
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares) 277,524 348,844  
Issuance of deferred units (in shares) 24,040    
Units issued upon exercise of options 4,500 8,300  
Units withheld for employee income taxes (60,382) (30,578)  
General partner (in shares) 1,000,000   1,000,000
General partner [Member]      
General and Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units [Roll Forward]      
General partner (in shares) 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares) 0 0  
Issuance of deferred units (in shares) 0    
Units issued upon exercise of options 0 0  
Units withheld for employee income taxes 0 0  
General partner (in shares) 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Class A Limited Partnership Units [Member]      
General and Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units [Roll Forward]      
Limited partners (in shares) 5,052,743 5,078,406 5,078,406
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares) 0 0  
Issuance of deferred units (in shares) 0    
Units issued upon exercise of options 0 0  
Units withheld for employee income taxes 0 0  
Limited partners (in shares) 5,052,743 5,078,406 5,052,743
Class B Limited Partnership Units [Member]      
General and Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units [Roll Forward]      
Limited partners (in shares) 94,880,825 94,509,781 94,509,781
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares) 277,524 348,844  
Issuance of deferred units (in shares) 24,040    
Units issued upon exercise of options 4,500 8,300  
Units withheld for employee income taxes (60,382) (30,578)  
Limited partners (in shares) 95,126,507 94,836,347 94,880,825
Limited partners [Member]      
General and Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units [Roll Forward]      
Limited partners (in shares) 99,933,568 99,588,187 99,588,187
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares) 277,524 348,844  
Issuance of deferred units (in shares) 24,040    
Units issued upon exercise of options 4,500 8,300  
Units withheld for employee income taxes (60,382) (30,578)  
Limited partners (in shares) 100,179,250 99,914,753 99,933,568