Impairment Charges and Reserves - Impairment Charges on Assets or Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Impairment Charges And Impairment Of Joint Venture Investments [Abstract]
Assets marketed for sale	$ 22,000	$ 0
Reserve of preferred equity interests	76,000	0
Total impairment charges	$ 98,000	$ 0

Amount of write-down of assets recognized into earnings included in continuing operations and discontinued operations and the equity method investment other than temporary impairment.

No definition available.

Name:	ddr_ImpairmentChargesIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAndInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	ddr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration