Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013		Jan. 31, 2012		Jan. 31, 2011
Numerators
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ (15,652)		$ (108,778)		$ 77,948
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock converstion	(32,129)		(15,400)		(11,807)
Undistributed Earnings from Continuing Operations Allocated to Participating Securities Basic	0		0		(2,119)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. - common shareholders - Basic	(47,781)		(124,178)		64,022
Undistributed Earnings from Continuing Operations Allocated to Participating Securities Diluted	0		0		2,119
Interest on convertible debt	0		0		4,438
Preferred distribution on Class A Common Units	0		0		1,433
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	(47,781)		(124,178)		72,012
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	36,425		(86,486)		58,048
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(1,697)		0		(1,501)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Basis	2,599		(101,886)		44,740
Undistributed Earnings Allocated to Participating Securities Diluted	0		0		1,501
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	$ 2,599		$ (101,886)		$ 52,112
Denominators
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	172,621,723		168,170,650		155,485,243
Effect of stock options and restricted stock	0		0		550,730
Effect of convertible debt	0		0		13,755,158
Effect of convertible Class A Common Units	0		0		3,646,755
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	172,621,723	[1]	168,170,650	[1]	173,437,886	[1]
Earnings per share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)		$ (0.74)		$ 0.41
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	$ (0.28)		$ (0.74)		$ 0.42
Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders per common share	$ 0.02		$ (0.61)		$ 0.29
Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders per common share	$ 0.02	[2]	$ (0.61)	[2]	$ 0.30	[2]

[1] Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock and convertible securities aggregating 49,642,605 and 45,856,959 for the years ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average shares issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and 2016 Senior Notes aggregating 27,471,380 for the year ended January 31, 2011 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the if-converted method. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 4,105,670, 4,222,955 and 4,447,652 for the years ended January 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.

[2] The accounting guidance on earnings per share requires that the number of diluted common shares used in computing the diluted per-share amount for earnings from continuing operations also be used in computing the diluted per-share amount for net earnings (loss) even if those amounts are anti-dilutive to the diluted per-share amount for net earnings (loss). Certain dilutive common shares had such an effect for the year ended January 31, 2011.