Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 28, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Registrant Name	Weingarten Realty Investors
Entity File Number	1-9876
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Tax Identification Number	74-1464203
Entity Address, Address Line One	2600 Citadel Plaza Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77292-4133
City Area Code	(713)
Local Phone Number	866-6000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.03 par value
Trading Symbol	WRI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company	false
Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		128,673,480
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Entity Central Index Key	0000828916
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31