Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				11 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Numerators
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ (94,132,000)		$ (36,717,000)		$ (90,434,000)		$ (66,190,000)
Preferred dividends	0		0		0		(185,000)		(185,000)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	(94,132,000)		(36,717,000)		(90,434,000)		(66,375,000)
Net loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(92,992,000)		(34,940,000)		(77,472,000)		(54,531,000)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$ (92,992,000)		$ (34,940,000)		$ (77,472,000)		$ (54,716,000)
Denominators
Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic and Diluted	198,341,355	[1]	191,357,242	[1]	198,041,879	[1]	187,604,085	[1]
Earnings per share
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$ (0.47)		$ (0.19)		$ (0.46)		$ (0.35)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$ (0.47)		$ (0.18)		$ (0.39)		$ (0.29)

[1] Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities aggregating 37,140,789 and 37,425,371 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 31,553,214 and 35,331,648 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 3,974,932 and 3,585,274 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 3,441,229 and 3,544,050 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.