Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	11 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013		Jan. 31, 2012
Numerators
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ (13,160,000)			$ (21,211,000)		$ (115,089,000)
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock conversions	(185,000)		(32,129,000)	(32,129,000)		(15,400,000)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Basic and Diluted	(13,345,000)			(53,340,000)		(130,489,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(5,307,000)		51,455,000	36,425,000		(86,486,000)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0			(1,878,000)		0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Basic and Diluted	$ (5,492,000)			$ 2,418,000		$ (101,886,000)
Denominators
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic and Diluted	193,465,572	[1]		172,621,723	[1]	168,170,650	[1]
Earnings per share
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Basic and Diluted	$ (0.07)			$ (0.31)		$ (0.78)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders - Basic and Diluted	$ (0.03)			$ 0.01		$ (0.61)

[1] Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock and convertible securities aggregating 35,431,746, 49,642,605 and 45,856,959 for the 11 months ended December 31, 2013 and 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 options, restricted stock and performance shares of 3,601,719, 4,105,670 and 4,222,955 for the 11 months ended December 31, 2013 and the years ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.