Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $)	11 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Schedule of Transition Period Comparative Data [Line Items]
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 1,020,108,000	$ 984,054,000	$ 1,070,972,000	$ 997,741,000
Operating expenses	675,585,000	608,422,000	670,285,000	614,814,000
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	279,189,000	195,044,000	218,695,000	198,290,000
Write-offs of abandoned development projects and demolition costs	40,414,000	14,029,000	26,850,000	8,838,000
Impairment of real estate	475,555,000	30,660,000	30,660,000	235,000
Net loss on land held for divestiture activity	7,382,000	4,457,000	(6,480,000)	115,654,000
Total Expenses	1,478,125,000	852,612,000	940,010,000	937,831,000
Interest expense	(292,324,000)	(236,287,000)	(261,294,000)	(241,840,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(8,561,000)	(10,186,000)	(11,182,000)	(10,997,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	4,549,000	6,807,000	7,096,000	9,590,000
Interest and other income	52,332,000	42,246,000	45,546,000	46,104,000
Net gain on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	496,092,000	0	0	17,665,000
Loss before income taxes	(205,929,000)	(65,978,000)	(88,872,000)	(119,568,000)
Income tax benefit	(9,334,000)	(13,291,000)	(14,725,000)	(67,685,000)
Net gain on change in control of interests	2,762,000	6,766,000	6,766,000	0
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, including impairment, gross of tax	107,825,000	84,543,000
Net gain (loss) on land held for divestiture activity, gross of tax	1,338,000	(42,606,000)	(40,777,000)	(41,902,000)
Total equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	109,163,000	41,937,000	44,631,000	(61,039,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(84,670,000)	(3,984,000)	(22,750,000)	(112,922,000)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	13,880,000	61,074,000	59,021,000	112,354,000
Net earnings (loss)	(70,790,000)	57,090,000	36,271,000	(568,000)
Noncontrolling interests	65,483,000	(5,635,000)	154,000	(85,918,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(5,307,000)	51,455,000	36,425,000	(86,486,000)
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock conversions	(185,000)	(32,129,000)	(32,129,000)	(15,400,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (5,492,000)	$ 19,326,000	$ 4,296,000	$ (101,886,000)