Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Preferred Stock, Share Repurchase Program, And Dividend Reinvestment And Stock Purchase Plan) (Narrative) (Details)

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Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Preferred Stock, Share Repurchase Program, And Dividend Reinvestment And Stock Purchase Plan) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 27, 2011
Oct. 23, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Oct. 28, 2011
Stock Option Activity [Line Items]          
Maximum percentage of outstanding share owned by REIT     50.00%    
Preferred stock, shares outstanding 10,000        
Preferred stock, percentage 8.00%        
Amount of depositary shares converted from the preferred shares 1,000,000        
Depositary shares value, per share $ 25        
One depositary share equivalent of one Series C Preferred Stock 1.00%        
Preferred stock, redemption price per share         $ 2,500
Write off of preferred stock issuance costs       $ 164,000  
Shares purchased and retired   394,625      
Aggregate cost of stocks repurchased   11,000,000      
Capacity available for additional repurchase of outstanding common stock   139,000,000      
Repurchase Of Equity [Member]
          
Stock Option Activity [Line Items]          
Date share repurchase program was initiated     September 2012    
Capacity of share repurchase program     150,000,000    
Dividend Reinvestment And Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
          
Stock Option Activity [Line Items]          
Common stock reserved for future issuance     5,500,000    
Monthly cash investment without restriction, maximum     5,000