Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - The Company’s Share of Net Income/(Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control					$ 150,073		$ 179,791
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	2,600		2,400		7,700		6,600
KIR [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	6,500	[1],[2],[3]	9,000	[1],[2],[3]	19,400	[1],[2],[3]	23,500	[1],[2],[3]
Kimstone [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	1,300	[4]	1,800	[4]	600	[4]	1,700	[4]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	1,000	[5]	900	[5]	2,600	[5]	2,300	[5]
CPP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	2,100		1,500		5,200		4,500
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control		[6]	900	[6]	900	[6]	2,500	[6]
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	200	[7]	300	[7]	700	[7]	800	[7]
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	2,400	[8]	400	[8]	2,400	[8]	2,800	[8]
RioCan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	7,700		7,300		23,000		20,000
Latin America Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	800	[10],[11],[12],[13],[9]	69,300	[10],[11],[12],[13],[9]	35,300	[10],[11],[12],[13],[9]	101,400	[10],[11],[12],[13],[9]
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	27,200	[14],[15],[16],[17]	2,400	[14],[15],[16],[17]	52,300	[14],[15],[16],[17]	13,700	[14],[15],[16],[17]
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	$ 51,800		$ 96,200		$ 150,100		$ 179,800

[1] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, KIR recognized aggregate impairment charges of $5.0 million related to two properties which KIR anticipates selling within the next 18 months. KIR effectively shortened its anticipated hold period for these assets which resulted in the expected future cash flows being less than the carrying value. The Company's share of these impairment charges was $2.8 million.

[2] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, KIR sold an operating property in Cincinnati, OH for a sales price of $30.0 million and recognized a gain of $6.1 million. The Company's share of this gain was $3.0 million.

[3] 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.

[4] During June 2013, Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII and the Company entered into a new joint venture (Kimstone) in which the Company owns a 33.3% noncontrolling interest.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

[10] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, joint ventures in which the Company held noncontrolling interests sold ten operating properties located throughout Mexico for $315.5 million. These transactions resulted in an aggregate net gain to the Company of $21.8 million, after tax.

[11] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company and its joint venture partner sold their noncontrolling ownership interest in a joint venture which held interests in 84 operating properties located throughout Mexico for $603.5 million (including debt of $301.2 million). This transaction resulted in a net gain to the Company of $78.2 million, before income taxes of $25.1 million.

[12] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a joint venture in which the Company held a noncontrolling interest sold nine operating properties located throughout Chile for net proceeds of $17.6 million. This transaction resulted in a net gain to the Company of $4.0 million.

[13] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded impairment charges of $12.9 million on six properties that were in advanced negotiations to sell located throughout Mexico based upon the anticipated selling prices.

[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.

[15] During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company received a distribution of $15.4 million from a joint venture that was in excess of its carrying value and as such, the Company recognized this amount as equity in income.

[16] During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a joint venture in which the Company has a noncontrolling interest sold on operating property for a sales price of $7.6 million and recognized an impairment charge of $2.0 million. The Company's share of this impairment charge was $1.0 million.

[17] During June 2013, the InTown portfolio was sold for a sales price of $735.0 million which included the assignment of $609.2 million in debt. This transaction resulted in a deferred gain to the Company of $21.7 million.