Organization (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		62 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	42 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	42 Months Ended
	May 20, 2008	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2009	Jun. 30, 2013 Brownmill, LLC [Member]	Apr. 12, 2011 Brownmill, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 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]	Jun. 30, 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]	Jun. 30, 2013 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	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
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															800,000	5,000,000					300,000	300,000
Proceeds from offering				7,145																	2,900
Subscription receivable		30		30		30		6,500
Gross proceeds from issuance of equity															8,000	49,800
Selling commissions and dealer manager fees		387	217	680	510	6,000										5,200
Payment for organization and other offering expenses																4,500
Net proceeds from issuance initial public offering															40,100	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
Subordinated general partner participation, per unit cost											$ 100
Percentage of subscriptions											10.00%
Sponsor's cash contribution									6,000
Ownership interest									48.60%	10.00%
Subordinate profit interest units									54
Aggregate value of subordinate profits									$ 5,400