Impairment Charges and Reserves - Impairment Charges on Assets or Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Impairment Charges And Impairment Of Joint Venture Investments [Abstract]
Assets marketed for sale	$ 30,400	$ 22,000
Reserve of preferred equity interests	3,961	76,000
Total impairment charges	$ 34,400	$ 98,000

Amount of write-down of assets recognized into earnings included in continuing operations and discontinued operations and the equity method investment other than temporary impairment.

No definition available.

Name:	ddr_ImpairmentChargesIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAndInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	ddr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration