Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	458	533		458	533
Office properties	5	6		5	6
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	$ 198,495	$ 196,600		$ 399,678	$ 397,131
Operating expenses	(82,189)	(135,616)		(150,382)	(196,806)
Net operating income	116,306	60,984		249,296	200,325
Unallocated expenses	(137,692)	(115,691)		(234,873)	(275,640)
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	16,567	(623)		18,541	1,023
Equity in net income of joint ventures and impairment of joint ventures	14,931			16,870
Loss income from continuing operations	(6,455)	(55,330)		31,293	(74,292)
Total gross real estate assets	8,419,430	8,635,287		8,419,430	8,635,287
Segment Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments				3
Quantitative threshold of revenues, profit or loss and assets for identifying reportable segments	10.00%	10.00%		10.00%	10.00%
Impairment charges	18,352	74,967	170,900	22,208	74,967
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	183	201		183	201
Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	3	29		3	29
States [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	39	42		39	42
Office properties	3	4		3	4
Other Investments [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	1,355	1,177		2,777	2,596
Operating expenses	(447)	(478)		(928)	(1,226)
Net operating income	908	699		1,849	1,370
Total gross real estate assets	47,483	49,907		47,483	49,907
Shopping Centers [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	197,140	195,423		396,901	394,535
Operating expenses	(81,742)	(135,138)		(149,454)	(195,580)
Net operating income	115,398	60,285		247,447	198,955
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	9,100	(2,409)		6,087	2,304
Total gross real estate assets	8,371,947	8,585,380		8,371,947	8,585,380
Brazil Equity Investment [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	5,831	1,786		10,783	3,327
Other [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Unallocated expenses	$ (137,692)	$ (115,691)		$ (234,873)	$ (275,640)

Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios.

Name:	ddr_CompanysCombinedShoppingAndOfficePropertiesPortfoliosAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity in net income loss of joint ventures and impairment of joint venture investments.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_EquityInNetIncomeLossOfJointVenturesAndImpairmentOfJointVentureInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Information about the Company's reportable segments.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_InformationAboutCompanysReportableSegmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, gains/losses from real estate sales, and noncontrolling interests.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_LossIncomeFromContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of office properties owned.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_NumberOfOfficePropertiesOwned
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of reportable segments.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of shopping centers owned.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_NumberOfShoppingCentersOwned
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents aggregate operating expenses including common area maintenance, real estate taxes, and general and administrative expenses.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_OperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Quantitative threshold of revenues profit or loss and assets for identifying reportable segments.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_QuantitativeThresholdOfRevenuesProfitOrLossAndAssetsForIdentifyingReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment information

+ Details

Name:	ddr_SegmentInformationTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents expenses consisting of general and administrative, depreciation and amortization, other income/expense, and tax benefit expense.

+ Details

Name:	ddr_SegmentReportingInformationUnallocatedExpense
Namespace Prefix:	ddr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 45, 46, 47

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. Such amount typically reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements, including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph c

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 11
-Article 7

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 9
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of total assets attributed to the reportable segment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant