Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUE:
Minimum rent	$ 63,683	$ 53,836	$ 187,001	$ 161,841
Expense recoveries	18,833	15,802	55,395	48,411
Percentage rent	938	723	3,683	2,798
Management and leasing services	499	483	1,803	1,590
Total revenue	83,953	70,844	247,882	214,640
EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES' EARNINGS
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Property operating	22,885	20,936	66,893	61,924
Rental property depreciation and amortization	20,738	18,147	65,442	57,620
General and administrative	10,227	13,090	32,414	38,406
Total costs and expenses	53,850	52,173	164,749	157,950
INCOME BEFORE OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE, TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	30,103	18,671	83,133	56,690
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
Investment income	1,586	1,515	4,615	3,175
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	469	4,426	129	4,694
Other (loss) income	(10)	101	124	257
Interest expense	(18,092)	(17,017)	(53,304)	(51,957)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(627)	(558)	(1,836)	(1,655)
Gain on bargain purchase				30,561
Gain on sale of real estate		959		5,565
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt			343	255
Impairment loss	(2,445)	(18,490)	(6,393)	(18,635)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	10,984	(10,393)	26,811	28,950
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries	(478)	3,173	(417)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	10,506	(7,220)	26,394	32,430
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operations of income producing properties sold or held for sale	295	4,058	279	11,384
Gain on disposal of income producing properties		4,025	14,269	4,012
Impairment loss on income producing properties sold or held for sale		(36,714)	(3,425)	(37,991)
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		33,642		34,453
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	295	5,011	11,123	11,858
NET INCOME (LOSS)	10,801	(2,209)	37,517	44,288
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,486)	141	(7,335)	267
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	8,315	(2,068)	30,182	44,555
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,736)	(2,448)	(8,202)	(6,965)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY ONE, INC.	5,579	(4,516)	21,980	37,590
Equity One, Inc. [Member]
REVENUE:
Minimum rent	7,131	7,077	21,119	21,435
Expense recoveries	1,885	1,974	5,815	5,920
Percentage rent	(5)	11	93	107
Management and leasing services		10		10
Total revenue	9,011	9,072	27,027	27,472
EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES' EARNINGS	27,195	18,883	96,469	72,962
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Property operating	2,897	2,888	8,369	8,433
Rental property depreciation and amortization	1,876	1,740	5,382	5,083
General and administrative	7,397	8,064	23,517	24,910
Total costs and expenses	12,170	12,692	37,268	38,426
INCOME BEFORE OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE, TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	24,036	15,263	86,228	62,008
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
Investment income	8,586	4,680	15,106	11,408
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
Other (loss) income	211	90	756	223
Interest expense	(24,104)	(22,408)	(71,030)	(66,623)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(598)	(510)	(1,736)	(1,494)
Gain on bargain purchase				30,561
Gain on sale of real estate				3,605
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt
Impairment loss
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	8,131	(2,885)	29,324	39,688
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	8,131	(2,885)	29,324	39,688
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operations of income producing properties sold or held for sale	10	393	(2)	1,171
Gain on disposal of income producing properties		34	282	34
Impairment loss on income producing properties sold or held for sale		(2,074)		(3,351)
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	10	(1,647)	280	(2,146)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	8,141	(4,532)	29,604	37,542
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,562)	16	(7,624)	48
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	5,579	(4,516)	21,980	37,590
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY ONE, INC.	5,579	(4,516)	21,980	37,590
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
REVENUE:
Minimum rent	30,980	28,869	91,699	87,696
Expense recoveries	8,643	8,389	25,820	25,369
Percentage rent	68	105	1,075	960
Management and leasing services	2	24	42	72
Total revenue	39,693	37,387	118,636	114,097
EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES' EARNINGS
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Property operating	9,900	10,099	30,141	30,687
Rental property depreciation and amortization	8,587	7,125	27,657	25,301
General and administrative	1,708	1,921	5,700	6,304
Total costs and expenses	20,195	19,145	63,498	62,292
INCOME BEFORE OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE, TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	19,498	18,242	55,138	51,805
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
Investment income	3	2	13	13
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
Other (loss) income
Interest expense	(915)	(2,301)	(1,290)	(4,531)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(3)	(22)	(23)	(75)
Gain on bargain purchase
Gain on sale of real estate		29		346
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt			(27)	42
Impairment loss	(2,445)	(18,490)	(6,393)	(18,635)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	16,138	(2,540)	47,418	28,965
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries	(120)	2,523	(244)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	16,018	(17)	47,174	31,456
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operations of income producing properties sold or held for sale	(83)	1,826	(178)	5,479
Gain on disposal of income producing properties			424	(13)
Impairment loss on income producing properties sold or held for sale		(162)	(3,425)	(162)
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(83)	1,664	(3,179)	5,304
NET INCOME (LOSS)	15,935	1,647	43,995	36,760
Other comprehensive (loss) income
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	15,935	1,647	43,995	36,760
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY ONE, INC.	15,935	1,647	43,995	36,760
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
REVENUE:
Minimum rent	25,572	17,890	74,183	52,710
Expense recoveries	8,305	5,439	23,760	17,122
Percentage rent	875	607	2,515	1,731
Management and leasing services	497	449	2,149	1,508
Total revenue	35,249	24,385	102,607	73,071
EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES' EARNINGS
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Property operating	10,296	7,428	28,952	21,260
Rental property depreciation and amortization	10,249	9,248	32,335	27,155
General and administrative	1,151	3,206	3,407	7,504
Total costs and expenses	21,696	19,882	64,694	55,919
INCOME BEFORE OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE, TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	13,553	4,503	37,913	17,152
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
Investment income	11,026	11,007	32,969	33,396
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	469	4,426	129	4,694
Other (loss) income	(9)	11	5	34
Interest expense	(11,102)	(5,367)	(24,457)	(19,103)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(26)	(26)	(77)	(86)
Gain on bargain purchase
Gain on sale of real estate		930		1,614
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt			370	213
Impairment loss
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	13,911	15,484	46,852	37,914
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries	(358)	650	(173)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	13,553	16,134	46,679	38,903
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operations of income producing properties sold or held for sale	364	203	390	(152)
Gain on disposal of income producing properties		3,991	13,563	3,991
Impairment loss on income producing properties sold or held for sale		(86,151)		(86,151)
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		33,642		34,453
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	364	(48,315)	13,953	(47,859)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	13,917	(32,181)	60,632	(8,956)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	76	125	289	219
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	13,993	(32,056)	60,921	(8,737)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,736)	(2,448)	(8,202)	(6,965)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY ONE, INC.	11,257	(34,504)	52,719	(15,702)
Eliminating Entries [Member]
REVENUE:
Minimum rent
Expense recoveries
Percentage rent
Management and leasing services			(388)
Total revenue			(388)
EQUITY IN SUBSIDIARIES' EARNINGS	(27,195)	(18,883)	(96,469)	(72,962)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Property operating	(208)	521	(569)	1,544
Rental property depreciation and amortization	26	34	68	81
General and administrative	(29)	(101)	(210)	(312)
Total costs and expenses	(211)	454	(711)	1,313
INCOME BEFORE OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE, TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(26,984)	(19,337)	(96,146)	(74,275)
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
Investment income	(18,029)	(14,174)	(43,473)	(41,642)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
Other (loss) income	(212)		(637)
Interest expense	18,029	13,059	43,473	38,300
Amortization of deferred financing fees
Gain on bargain purchase
Gain on sale of real estate
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt
Impairment loss
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(27,196)	(20,452)	(96,783)	(77,617)
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(27,196)	(20,452)	(96,783)	(77,617)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operations of income producing properties sold or held for sale	4	1,636	69	4,886
Gain on disposal of income producing properties
Impairment loss on income producing properties sold or held for sale		51,673		51,673
Income tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	4	53,309	69	56,559
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(27,192)	32,857	(96,714)	(21,058)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(27,192)	32,857	(96,714)	(21,058)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY ONE, INC.	$ (27,192)	$ 32,857	$ (96,714)	$ (21,058)