Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerators
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.		$ 303,756,000	$ (94,132,000)	$ 249,547,000	$ (90,434,000)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities		(6,551,000)	0	(5,656,000)	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders - Basic		297,205,000	(94,132,000)	243,891,000	(90,434,000)
Interest on convertible debt		2,521,000	0	5,042,000	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Diluted		299,726,000	(94,132,000)	248,933,000	(90,434,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.		303,756,000	(92,992,000)	249,547,000	(77,472,000)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities		(6,551,000)	0	(5,656,000)	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders - Basic		297,205,000	(92,992,000)	243,891,000	(77,472,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders ‑ Diluted		$ 299,726,000	$ (92,992,000)	$ 248,933,000	$ (77,472,000)
Denominators
Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic		233,377,771	198,341,355	218,254,445	198,041,879
Effect of stock options and performance shares		2,225,323	0	1,826,936	0
Effect of convertible debt		18,389,062	0	18,490,660	0
Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Diluted	[1]	253,992,156	198,341,355	238,572,041	198,041,879
Earnings per share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic		$ 1.27	$ (0.47)	$ 1.12	$ (0.46)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Diluted		1.18	(0.47)	1.04	(0.46)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic		1.27	(0.47)	1.12	(0.39)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders ‑ Diluted		$ 1.18	$ (0.47)	$ 1.04	$ (0.39)

[1] Incremental shares from restricted stock and Class A common units of 3,908,518 and 4,110,705, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive. Incremental shares from convertible securities of 4,720,604 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive. 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, were not included in the computation of EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 1,803,486 and 2,123,933 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively, and 3,974,932 and 3,585,274 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.