Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Starwood Property Trust, Inc. Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated other comprehensive Income	Non-controlling Interests
Balance at Aug. 17, 2009	$ 1	$ 1		$ 1
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 17, 2009			100
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Proceeds from public offering of common stock	931,500	931,500	466	931,034
Proceeds from public offering of common stock (in shares)			46,575,000
Underwriting and offering costs	(57,588)	(57,588)		(57,588)
Proceeds from private placement	20,000	20,000	10	19,990
Proceeds from private placement (in shares)			1,000,000
Cancellation of shares	(1)	(1)		(1)
Cancellation of shares (in shares)			(100)
Stock-based compensation	2,421	2,421		2,421
Stock-based compensation (in shares)			8,800
Net income (loss)	(2,580)	(3,017)				(3,017)		437
Dividends declared	(5,349)	(5,349)				(5,349)
Contribution from non-controlling interests	50,855							50,855
Distribution to non-controlling interests	(43,224)							(43,224)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	896,035	887,967	476	895,857		(8,366)		8,068
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			47,583,800
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Proceeds from public offering of common stock	453,790	453,790	230	453,560
Proceeds from public offering of common stock (in shares)			23,000,000
Underwriting and offering costs	(18,986)	(18,986)		(18,986)
Stock-based compensation	7,522	7,522		7,522
Stock-based compensation (in shares)			437,542
Net income (loss)	58,842	57,046				57,046		1,796
Dividends declared	(67,982)	(67,982)				(67,982)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	9,342	8,203					8,203	1,139
Contribution from non-controlling interests	3,002							3,002
Distribution to non-controlling interests	(4,336)							(4,336)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,337,229	1,327,560	706	1,337,953		(19,302)	8,203	9,669
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	71,021,342		71,021,342
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Proceeds from public offering of common stock	476,728	476,728	220	476,508
Proceeds from public offering of common stock (in shares)			22,000,000
Underwriting and offering costs	(1,091)	(1,091)		(1,091)
Stock-based compensation	13,754	13,754	11	13,743
Stock-based compensation (in shares)			726,754
Manager incentive fee paid in stock	1,207	1,207	1	1,206
Manager incentive fee paid in stock (in shares)			63,255
Treasury stock purchased	(10,642)	(10,642)			(10,642)
Treasury stock purchased (in shares)					625,850
Net income (loss)	120,608	119,377				119,377		1,231
Dividends declared	(155,204)	(155,204)				(155,204)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(13,340)	(12,201)					(12,201)	(1,139)
Contribution from non-controlling interests	5,239							5,239
Distribution to non-controlling interests	(9,341)							(9,341)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,765,147	$ 1,759,488	$ 938	$ 1,828,319	$ (10,642)	$ (55,129)	$ (3,998)	$ 5,659
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	93,811,351		93,811,351		625,850