Stockholders' Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Dividends
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 4.000	$ 3.472	$ 2.000
Sunstone Hotel Partnership, LLC
Operating Partnership Units
Operating partnership units (in units)	135,237,438
Preferred Stock, Series A
Dividends
Preferred stock dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 2.000	$ 2.000	$ 2.000
Preferred Stock, Series D
Dividends
Preferred stock dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 2.000	$ 1.472