Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center	Sep. 30, 2011 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center	Sep. 30, 2012 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center	Sep. 30, 2011 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center	Dec. 31, 2011 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center	Oct. 21, 2012 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center Subsequent Event	Oct. 21, 2012 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center Subsequent Event Macerich	Oct. 21, 2012 The Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center Subsequent Event Macerich Maximum [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Real Estate Property Sold Gross												$ 751,000,000
Common Stock From Sale of Real Estate													30,000,000
Net proceeds from sale after paying loan and closing costs												481,000,000
Financial statement gain											602,000,000
Tax Gain											624,000,000
Total revenues related to discontinued operations						17,518,000	17,788,000	50,601,000	50,957,000
Total expenses related to discontinued operations						10,580,000	10,461,000	30,599,000	32,195,000
Income from discontinued operations	6,938,000	7,327,000	20,002,000	18,762,000		6,938,000	7,327,000	20,002,000	18,762,000
Fees to Vornado	1,146,000	917,000	3,231,000	2,649,000		433,000	424,000	1,310,000	1,245,000
Assets related to discontinued operations	133,525,000		133,525,000		137,418,000	133,525,000		133,525,000		137,418,000
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000