Organization (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		59 Months Ended			59 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	40 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		40 Months Ended
	May 20, 2008	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2009	Mar. 31, 2013 Brownmill, LLC [Member]	Apr. 12, 2011 Brownmill, LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 for each $1.0 million in subscriptions up to ten percent of its primary offering proceeds on a semi-annual basis [Member] Brownmill, LLC [Member]	May 20, 2008 Advisory Services [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Public Offering [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Public Offering [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Public Offering [Member]	Aug. 15, 2012 Public Offering [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Public Offering [Member] Maximum [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Public Offering [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Aug. 15, 2012 Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]	Sep. 27, 2012 Restricted Share Award [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Restricted Share Award [Member]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Date of incorporation		Apr. 28, 2008
Lightstone REIT, partnership formation date		Apr. 30, 2008
Common stock, shares authorized		100,000		100,000	100,000										30,000,000	51,000,000	2,500,000	6,500,000		255,000	255,000
Common stock, price per share											$ 10	$ 10					$ 9.50	$ 9.50
Initial Public Offering Starting Date												Apr. 24, 2009
Initial public offer expiration date												Aug. 15, 2012
Stock issued during period, per share										$ 10
Stock issued during period for services, shares										20,000
Stock issued during period for services, value										$ 200
Proceeds from offering, shares													400,000	5,000,000					300,000
Proceeds from offering		2,963
Subscription receivable		175		175		6,500
Gross proceeds from issuance of equity				53,600									4,000,000	49,800
Selling commissions and dealer manager fees		293	293	5,600										5,200
Payment for organization and other offering expenses														4,500
Net proceeds from issuance initial public offering														10,100
Proceeds form issuance of equity, share-based compensation plan														2,900
General partner ownership interest				99.90%
Advisor's contribution to operating partnership	2
Partnership units issued	200
Subordinate General Partner Unit Value									1,000,000
Subordinated general partner participation, per unit cost									$ 100,000
Percentage of subscriptions									10.00%
Sponsor's cash contribution							200
Ownership interest							48.60%	10.00%
Subordinate profit interest units							50
Aggregate value of subordinate profits							$ 5,000