Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012		Jan. 31, 2013
Numerators
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ (29,090,000)		$ 18,906,000
Preferred dividends	(185,000)		(3,850,000)		(13,060,000)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0		(487,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders ‑ Basic	(29,275,000)		14,569,000
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0		487,000
Interest on convertible debt	0		1,110,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	(29,275,000)		16,166,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(19,368,000)		22,752,000
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0		(611,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders ‑ Basic	(19,553,000)		18,291,000
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities diluted	0		611,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	$ (19,553,000)		$ 20,012,000
Denominators
Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic	184,821,775		169,206,594
Effect of stock options and restricted stock	0		937,272
Effect of convertible debt	0		13,755,158
Effect of convertible Class A Common Units	0		3,646,755
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted	184,821,775	[1]	187,545,779	[1]
Earnings per share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders ‑ Basic	$ (0.16)		$ 0.09
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Etnerprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	$ (0.16)		$ 0.09
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders ‑ Basic	$ (0.11)		$ 0.11
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Diluted	$ (0.11)		$ 0.11

[1] Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities aggregating 37,714,161 for the three months ended April 30, 2013 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average shares issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and 2018 and 2016 Senior Notes aggregating 34,294,602 for the three months ended April 30, 2012 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 4,145,971 for the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 4,485,328 for the three months ended April 30, 2012 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.