Number of real estate assets disposed of during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ddr_ShoppingCenterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Asset	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) ShoppingCenter	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 ShoppingCenter
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of joint venture assets		$ 26,102	$ 36,361
Shopping Center [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of joint venture assets	$ 13,500
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties \| ShoppingCenter		157		168
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] \| Shopping Center [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold \| Asset	11
Proceeds from sale of joint venture assets	$ 170,500
Gain on sale of joint venture assets	$ 53,400