Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Restricted Stock Awards And TSR-Based Awards) (Narrative) (Details)

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Mack-Cali Realty Corporation Stockholders' Equity (Restricted Stock Awards And TSR-Based Awards) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
item
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 12, 2012
May 11, 2015
Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Unvested performance shares 42,000cli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsUnvestedInPeriod 63,933cli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsUnvestedInPeriod        
Number of executive officers who departed 2cli_NumberOfExecutiveOfficersWhoDeparted          
Shares vested 183,214us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod 149,463us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod 123,877us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod      
Unvested restricted stock outstanding 346,946us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 153,560us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 134,328us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber     187,447us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Awards issued 376,719us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod [1],[2],[3] 168,841us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod [4],[5] 70,758us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod [6]      
Restricted Stock [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Unvested restricted stock outstanding 136,946us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember 		409,294us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember 		134,328us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember 		     
Restricted stock awards unvested shares outstanding, performance contingent 210,000cli_RestrictedStockAwardsUnvestedSharesOutstandingPerformanceContingent
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember 		         
Restricted Stock [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock compensation vesting period 1 year          
Restricted Stock [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock compensation vesting period 7 years          
Ratified Restricted Stock Awards [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Unvested performance shares   63,933cli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsUnvestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_RatifiedRestrictedStockAwardsMember 		       
Shares vested 109,667us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_RatifiedRestrictedStockAwardsMember 		         
Awards issued       319,667us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_RatifiedRestrictedStockAwardsMember 		   
Ratified Restricted Stock Awards [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock compensation vesting period 5 years          
Ratified Restricted Stock Awards [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock compensation vesting period 7 years          
Total Stockholder Return Based Awards [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Stock compensation vesting period 4 years          
Shares vested 357us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		         
Shares granted and vested 528cli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedAndVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		         
Awards issued   1,032us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		  5,160us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		   
Value of common stock received upon vesting of awards 1,000cli_ValueOfCommonStockReceivedUponVestingOfAwards
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		         
Shares issued 45,062us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		         
Total unrecognized compensation cost 1.5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember 		         
Total unrecognized compensation cost, period of recognition 1 year 6 months          
Scenario, Forecast [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Shares vested         84,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember 		 
Shares granted and vested         126,000cli_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedAndVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember 		 
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Total Stockholder Return Based Awards [Member]            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Shares vested         675us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember 		 
Shares issued         41,811us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cli_TotalStockholderReturnBasedAwardsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember 		 
[1] Included in the 376,719 Restricted Stock Awards granted in 2014 were 8,211 awards granted to the Company’s two executive officers Anthony Krug and Gary Wagner.
[2] Includes 42,000 Performance Shares which were legally granted in 2013 for which the 2014 performance goals were set by the Committee on March 31, 2014. Also includes 87,734 shares which were additionally considered granted for accounting purposes to two executive officers in connection with their departure effective March 31, 2014, which vested on April 1, 2014.
[3] Includes 126,000 Performance Shares which were legally granted in 2013 for which future performance goals had not yet been set by the Committee. These awards were not considered granted for accounting purposes until these goals are set. These were considered granted in 2014 for accounting purposes in connection with the announcement of the departure of Mitchell E. Hersh in the fourth quarter 2014.
[4] Included in the 168,841 Restricted Stock Awards granted in 2013 were 106,933 awards granted to the Company’s four executive officers, Mitchell E. Hersh, Barry Lefkowitz, Roger W. Thomas and Anthony Krug.
[5] Includes 63,933 Performance Shares which were legally granted in 2013 for which the 2013 performance goals were not met, which may be earned if subsequent years’ performance goals are met.
[6] Included in the 70,758 Restricted Stock Awards granted in 2012 were 42,273 awards granted to the Company’s three executive officers, Mitchell E. Hersh, Barry Lefkowitz and Roger W. Thomas.