Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011		Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Prior period adjustment and financial statement revision [Abstract]
Operating expenses	$ 173,292	$ 152,756		$ 339,838	$ 313,113
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	16,797	(3,761)		25,273	(3,619)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(38,049)	(9,297)		(19,735)	31,444
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	(47,567)	5,508		(28,665)	48,001
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ (0.08)		$ (0.20)	$ 0.14
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ (0.08)		$ (0.20)	$ 0.14
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ 0.03		$ (0.17)	$ 0.28
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ 0.03		$ (0.17)	$ 0.29
Previously reported [Member]
Prior period adjustment and financial statement revision [Abstract]
Operating expenses		154,756	[1]
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		(4,537)	[1]
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		(10,521)	[1]
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		4,284	[1]
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ (0.09)	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ (0.09)	[1]
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.02	[1]
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.02	[1]
Adjustment [Member]
Prior period adjustment and financial statement revision [Abstract]
Operating expenses		(2,000)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		776
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		1,224
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 1,224
Basic earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.01
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.01
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders		$ 0.01

[1] Adjusted to reflect the impact of discontinued operations (see Note M).