Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Common Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Common Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member] Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member] Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) [Member] Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member] Series D Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 408,836,000		$ 40,000,000		$ 33,041,000		$ 626,099,000		$ (311,246,000)		$ (92,000)		$ 21,034,000
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011			1,600,000		33,041,000
Dividends declared on Series D Preferred Shares ($1.92628 per share, $2.3125 per share, $1.348963 per share)	(9,285,000)	(9,285,000)								(9,285,000)
Net income attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	24,631,000								24,631,000
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(247,000)												(247,000)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(7,242,000)												(7,242,000)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	4,576,000												4,576,000
Purchase of non-controlling interests	(7,900,000)						(4,533,000)						(3,367,000)
Dividends declared on Common Shares of beneficial interest ($0.65 per share,$0.65 per share and $0.325 per share)	(21,485,000)								(21,485,000)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives	42,000										42,000
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan (in shares)					48,000
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan	517,000				48,000		469,000
Stock buyback	(742,000)				(70,000)		(672,000)
Stock buyback, shares					(70,000)
Net proceeds from Shares offering, value		77,563,000		80,500,000				(2,937,000)
Net proceeds from shares offering, shares				3,220,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	469,264,000		120,500,000		33,019,000		618,426,000		(317,385,000)		(50,000)		14,754,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012			4,820,000		33,019,000
Dividends declared on Series D Preferred Shares ($1.92628 per share, $2.3125 per share, $1.348963 per share)	(11,146,000)	(11,146,000)								(11,146,000)
Net income attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	28,778,000								28,778,000
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(4,290,000)												(4,290,000)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(51,000)												(51,000)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	18,629,000												18,629,000
Purchase of non-controlling interests	(150,000)						103,000						(253,000)
Dividends declared on Common Shares of beneficial interest ($0.65 per share,$0.65 per share and $0.325 per share)	(22,372,000)								(22,372,000)
Dividends declared on Restricted Shares	(307,000)								(307,000)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives	(74,000)										(74,000)
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan (in shares)					40,000
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan	464,000				40,000		424,000
Net proceeds from Shares offering, value	30,021,000				2,750,000		27,271,000
Net proceeds from shares offering, shares					2,750,000
Issuance of restricted shares, value
Issuance of restricted shares, shares	600,000				592,000
Amortization of Restricted Shares	897,000						897,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	509,663,000		120,500,000		35,809,000		647,121,000		(322,432,000)		(124,000)		28,789,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013			4,820,000		36,401,000
Dividends declared on Series D Preferred Shares ($1.92628 per share, $2.3125 per share, $1.348963 per share)	(6,502,000)	(6,502,000)				0		0		(6,502,000)		0		0
Net income attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	12,481,000								12,481,000
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(3,818,000)												(3,818,000)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(711,000)												(711,000)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	873,000												873,000
Increase in non-controlling interest due to consolidation of property	16,391,000												16,391,000
Decrease in non-controlling interest due to property sale	(3,764,000)												(3,764,000)
Dividends declared on Common Shares of beneficial interest ($0.65 per share,$0.65 per share and $0.325 per share)	(11,642,000)								(11,642,000)
Dividends declared on Restricted Shares	(192,000)								(192,000)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives	(193,000)										(193,000)
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan (in shares)					16,000
Stock issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan	178,000				16,000		162,000
Amortization of Restricted Shares	1,450,000						1,450,000
Ending balance at Jul. 31, 2014	$ 514,214,000		$ 120,500,000		$ 35,825,000		$ 648,733,000		$ (328,287,000)		$ (317,000)		$ 37,760,000
Ending balance, shares at Jul. 31, 2014			4,820,000		36,417,000