Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Investment Details (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total GLA	5,361	[1],[2]
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	[3],[4],[5]	15.00%	[3],[4],[5]
Number of Properties	60	[3],[4],[5]	60	[3],[4],[5]
Total GLA	10,600,000	[3],[4],[5]	10,600,000	[3],[4],[5]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	$ 2,747.7	[3],[4],[5]	$ 2,724.0	[3],[4],[5]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	180.7	[3],[4],[5]	179.7	[3],[4],[5]
KIR [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	48.60%	[3],[6]	48.60%	[3],[6]
Number of Properties	55	[3],[6]	57	[3],[6]
Total GLA	11,600,000	[3],[6]	12,000,000	[3],[6]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,486.0	[3],[6]	1,496.0	[3],[6]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	153.8	[3],[6]	163.6	[3],[6]
Kimstone [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	33.30%	[3]	33.30%	[3]	33.30%
Number of Properties	39	[3]	39	[3]
Total GLA	5,600,000	[3]	5,600,000	[3]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,096.5	[3]	1,095.3	[3]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	93.3	[3]	100.3	[3]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	37.90%	[3],[7],[8]	37.90%	[3],[7],[8]
Number of Properties	21	[3],[7],[8]	21	[3],[7],[8]
Total GLA	3,400,000	[3],[7],[8]	3,400,000	[3],[7],[8]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	522.1	[3],[7],[8]	520.1	[3],[7],[8]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	31.3	[3],[7],[8]	29.5	[3],[7],[8]
CPP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	55.00%	[3]	55.00%	[3]
Number of Properties	6	[3]	6	[3]
Total GLA	2,400,000	[3]	2,400,000	[3]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	438.8	[3]	437.4	[3]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	155.6	[3]	144.8	[3]
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest		[3],[9]	39.50%	[3],[9]
Number of Properties		[3],[9]	12	[3],[9]
Total GLA		[3],[9]	1,500,000	[3],[9]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)		[3],[9]	288.7	[3],[9]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)		[3],[9]	50.6	[3],[9]
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	[10],[3]	15.00%	[10],[3]
Number of Properties	3	[10],[3]	13	[10],[3]
Total GLA	400,000	[10],[3]	1,800,000	[10],[3]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	85.8	[10],[3]	361.9	[10],[3]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	2.5	[10],[3]	0.9	[10],[3]
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest		[11],[12],[3]		[11],[12],[3]
Number of Properties	51	[11],[12],[3]	56	[11],[12],[3]
Total GLA	1,500,000	[11],[12],[3]	2,100,000	[11],[12],[3]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	344.4	[11],[12],[3]	385.3	[11],[12],[3]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	10.1	[11],[12],[3]	17.9	[11],[12],[3]
RioCan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest	50.00%		50.00%
Number of Properties	45		45
Total GLA	9,300,000		9,300,000
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,256.9		1,314.3
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	162.6		156.3
Latin America Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest		[13]		[13]
Number of Properties	17	[13]	28	[13]
Total GLA	1,000,000	[13]	3,700,000	[13]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	95.9	[13]	313.2	[13]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	52.6	[13]	156.7	[13]
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Average Ownership Interest		[14]		[14]
Number of Properties	61	[14]	75	[14]
Total GLA	9,800,000	[14]	11,500,000	[14]
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	1,447.7	[14]	1,548.9	[14]
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	244.9	[14]	256.7	[14]
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Properties	358		412
Total GLA	55,600,000		63,900,000
Gross Investment In Real Estate (in Dollars)	9,521.8		10,485.1
The Company's Investment (in Dollars)	$ 1,087.4		$ 1,257.0

[1] The Company acquired from its partners the remaining ownership interest in a joint venture which holds 12 encumbered properties for which the Company had a 39.1% noncontrolling interest. The Company evaluated this transaction pursuant to the FASB's Consolidation guidance and as a result, recognized a gain of $65.6 million from the fair value adjustment associated with the Company's original ownership due to a change in control, which is reflected in the purchase price above in Other. Subsequently, the Company repaid $128.4 million in debt encumbering ten of the properties. Additionally, during June 2014, the Company sold one of the properties to a third party.

[2] Gross leasable area ("GLA")

[3] The Company manages these joint venture investments and, where applicable, earns acquisition fees, leasing commissions, property management fees, asset management fees and construction management fees.

[4] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, KimPru acquired an additional parcel within one of its existing operating properties in Elk Grove, CA for a purchase price of $10.5 million. The Company's capital contribution for this acquisition was $1.6 million.

[5] This venture represents four separate joint ventures, with four separate accounts managed by Prudential Real Estate Investors ("PREI"), three of these ventures are collectively referred to as KimPru and the remaining venture is referred to as KimPru II.

[6] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, KIR sold two operating properties for a sales price of $17.7 million. In connection with the two dispositions, the Company recognized its share of an aggregate net gain of $1.1 million.

[7] During October 2014, the Company and their joint venture partner BIG divided 15 of the 21 properties in the BIG Shopping Centers venture with the Company receiving a 99% ownership interest in seven operating properties and BIG receiving a 99% ownership interest in eight operating properties. As a result of this transaction, the Company will consolidate these seven properties. Subsequent to this transaction the BIG Shopping Centers venture holds six operating properties.

[8] Ownership % is a blended rate

[9] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company purchased the remaining interest in KIF based on a gross purchase price of $408.0 million. The Company evaluated this transaction pursuant to the FASB's Consolidation guidance. As such, the Company recognized a gain of $65.6 million from the fair value adjustment associated with the Company's original ownership due to a change in control and now consolidates these operating properties.

[10] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company purchased the remaining 85% interest in 10 SEB properties based on a gross purchase price of $275.8 million including the assumption of $193.6 million of mortgage debt. The Company evaluated this transaction pursuant to the FASB's Consolidation guidance. As such, the Company recognized a gain of $14.4 million from the fair value adjustment associated with the Company's original ownership due to a change in control and now consolidates these operating properties.

[11] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company acquired three properties from a joint venture in which the Company has a noncontrolling interest for a total sales price of $93.2 million. The Company evaluated this transaction pursuant to the FASB's Consolidation guidance. As such, the Company recognized a gain of $3.7 million from the fair value adjustment associated with the Company's original ownership due to a change in control and now consolidates these operating properties.

[12] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, two joint ventures in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest sold two operating properties for an aggregate sales price of $46.6 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $11.1 million. The Company's share of this gain was $2.2 million.

[13] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company sold its noncontrolling interest in 10 operating properties located throughout Mexico based on a gross aggregate sales price of $202.1 million. The Company recognized a net gain of $30.0 million, before income taxes, associated with these transactions.

[14] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, a joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest sold 14 operating properties for an aggregate sales price of $158.5 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $51.9 million. The Company's share of this gain was $26.2 million.