Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	$ 921.2		$ 923.4
Average Interest Rate	5.53%		5.53%
Average Remaining Term	26 months	[1]	35 months	[1]
KIR [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	870.6		889.1
Average Interest Rate	5.04%		5.05%
Average Remaining Term	64 months 27 days	[1]	75 months 3 days	[1]
Kimstone [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	729.5		749.9
Average Interest Rate	4.46%		4.62%
Average Remaining Term	30 months 24 days	[1]	39 months 9 days	[1]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	406.3		406.5
Average Interest Rate	5.41%		5.39%
Average Remaining Term	34 months 6 days	[1]	40 months 3 days	[1]
CPP [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	112.6		138.6
Average Interest Rate	5.03%		5.23%
Average Remaining Term	13 months 3 days	[1]	19 months	[1]
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable			158.0
Average Interest Rate			5.45%
Average Remaining Term			8 months 21 days	[1]
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	50.2		243.8
Average Interest Rate	4.06%		5.11%
Average Remaining Term	38 months 21 days	[1]	43 months 9 days	[1]
RioCan [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	679.0		743.7
Average Interest Rate	4.46%		4.59%
Average Remaining Term	40 months 15 days	[1]	48 months	[1]
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	223.4		272.9
Average Interest Rate	5.47%		5.32%
Average Remaining Term	23 months 24 days	[1]	31 months	[1]
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	952.5		1,063.1
Average Interest Rate	5.33%		5.53%
Average Remaining Term	59 months 15 days	[1]	60 months 18 days	[1]
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted for under the Equity Method - Debt Details [Line Items]
Mortgages and Notes Payable	$ 4,945.3		$ 5,589.0

[1] Average Remaining Term includes extension options