Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Stock Options Plans) (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Stock Options Plans) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
May 31, 2013
May 31, 2004
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock option terms 10 years          
Weighted average remaining contractual life 4 years 8 months 12 days     4 years 10 months 24 days    
Options exercised 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised        
Stock options expense $ 1,000us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense   $ 1,000us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense      
2013 Incentive Stock Plan [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance         4,600,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandThirteenIncentiveStockPlanMember
 
2004 Incentive Stock Plan [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance           2,500,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandFourIncentiveStockPlanMember
Shares issued 0us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandFourIncentiveStockPlanMember
         
Employee And Director Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 2,700,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_EmployeeAndDirectorPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
         
Employee And Director Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 4,350,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_EmployeeAndDirectorPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
         
2000 Employee Plan [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Exercisable time period 5 years          
2000 Employee Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 2,500,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandEmployeePlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
         
2000 Employee Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 4,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandEmployeePlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
         
2000 Director Plan [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Exercisable time period 1 year          
2000 Director Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 200,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandDirectorPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
         
2000 Director Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Reserved stocks for issuance 350,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cli_TwoThousandDirectorPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember