Notes Receivables (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Loans receivable on real estate
Opening Balance	$ 103.7	$ 58.7
Additions:
New mortgage loans	10.0	58.3
Interest	0.8	4.8
Accretion of discount	0.6	0.1
Deductions:
Collections of principal	(6.8)
Loan foreclosure		(19.0)
Loan loss reserve	(5.0)
Ending Balance	$ 103.3	$ 102.9

Additions.

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

- Definition

Deductions.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Mortgage loans on real estate accretion of discount.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Mortgage loans on real estate interest.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total carrying amount of mortgage loans as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of principal collected on mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of mortgage loans on real estate which were foreclosed on during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of any write-down or reserve provided in the period on a mortgage loan on real estate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

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