Note 7 - 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	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Note 7 - 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	$ 920.4		$ 923.4
Average Interest Rate	5.53%		5.53%
Average Remaining Term	23 months	[1]	35 months	[1]
KIR [Member]
Note 7 - 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	866.4		889.1
Average Interest Rate	5.04%		5.05%
Average Remaining Term	61 months 27 days	[1]	75 months 3 days	[1]
Kimstone [Member]
Note 7 - 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	704.4		749.9
Average Interest Rate	4.45%		4.62%
Average Remaining Term	28 months 21 days	[1]	39 months 9 days	[1]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Note 7 - 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	144.6		406.5
Average Interest Rate	5.52%		5.39%
Average Remaining Term	22 months	[1]	40 months 3 days	[1]
CPP [Member]
Note 7 - 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	112.1		138.6
Average Interest Rate	5.05%		5.23%
Average Remaining Term	10 months 3 days	[1]	19 months	[1]
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Note 7 - 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 7 - 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	35 months 21 days	[1]	43 months 9 days	[1]
RioCan [Member]
Note 7 - 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	642.6		743.7
Average Interest Rate	4.29%		4.59%
Average Remaining Term	39 months 27 days	[1]	48 months	[1]
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Note 7 - 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	223.1		272.9
Average Interest Rate	5.47%		5.32%
Average Remaining Term	20 months 24 days	[1]	31 months	[1]
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Note 7 - 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	927.5		1,063.1
Average Interest Rate	5.31%		5.53%
Average Remaining Term	58 months 18 days	[1]	60 months 18 days	[1]
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Note 7 - 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	$ 4,591.3		$ 5,589.0

[1] Average remaining term includes extensions