Note 5 - Investments and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Detail) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted For Under The Equity Method - Investment Details (Current Period) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
Kim Pruand Kim PruII [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	15.00%
Number of Properties	63	63
Gross Investment In Real Estate	$ 2,789,300,000	$ 2,789,300,000
The Company's Investment	152,500,000	152,500,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		(1,700,000)
Kimco Income Opportunity PortfolioKIR [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	45.00%	45.00%
Number of Properties	59	59
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,551,800,000	1,551,800,000
The Company's Investment	160,600,000	160,600,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		10,600,000
UBS Programs [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	17.90%	17.90%
Number of Properties	43	43
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,367,700,000	1,367,700,000
The Company's Investment	68,200,000	68,200,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		1,000,000
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	37.70%	37.70%
Number of Properties	23	23
Gross Investment In Real Estate	555,500,000	555,500,000
The Company's Investment	44,300,000	44,300,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		(1,500,000)
The Canada Pension Plan Investment BoardCPP [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	55.00%	55.00%
Number of Properties	6	6
Gross Investment In Real Estate	429,900,000	429,900,000
The Company's Investment	141,600,000	141,600,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		2,800,000
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.20%	15.20%
Number of Properties	12	12
Gross Investment In Real Estate	281,700,000	281,700,000
The Company's Investment	12,200,000	12,200,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		600,000
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	15.00%
Number of Properties	11	11
Gross Investment In Real Estate	299,900,000	299,900,000
The Company's Investment	1,000,000	1,000,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		100,000
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Number of Properties	68	68
Gross Investment In Real Estate	842,000,000	842,000,000
The Company's Investment	33,700,000	33,700,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		700,000
Rio Can [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	50.00%	50.00%
Number of Properties	45	45
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,422,500,000	1,422,500,000
The Company's Investment	62,600,000	62,600,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		9,500,000
Intown [Member]
Number of Properties	138	138
Gross Investment In Real Estate	824,300,000	824,300,000
The Company's Investment	95,500,000	95,500,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		(2,100,000)
Latin America [Member]
Number of Properties	129	129
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,256,700,000	1,256,700,000
The Company's Investment	360,300,000	360,300,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		5,700,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Number of Properties	93	93
Gross Investment In Real Estate	2,070,000,000	2,070,000,000
The Company's Investment	303,900,000	303,900,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		4,500,000
Equity InIncome OfJoint Ventures Net [Member]
Number of Properties	690	690
Gross Investment In Real Estate	13,691,300,000	13,691,300,000
The Company's Investment	1,436,400,000	1,436,400,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	$ 17,824,000	$ 30,169,000