Income Per Class A Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Income Per Class A Unit [Abstract]
Income loss from continuing operations	$ 106,842	$ 57,779	$ 361,624	$ 477,307
Income from discontinued operations	157,314	8,444	241,024	165,706
Net income	264,156	66,223	602,648	643,013
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(6,610)	(5,636)	(30,928)	(20,643)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	257,546	60,587	571,720	622,370
Preferred unit distributions	(22,016)	(21,655)	(65,337)	(58,722)
Discount on preferred unit redemptions	11,700	5,000	11,700	5,000
NET INCOME attributable to Class A unitholders	247,230	43,932	518,083	568,648
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(1,008)	(706)	(2,302)	(2,721)
Numerator for basic income per Class A unit	246,222	43,226	515,781	565,927
Convertible preferred unit distributions - Numerator	28	0	85	94
Numerator for diluted income per Class A unit	$ 246,250	$ 43,226	$ 515,866	$ 566,021
Denominator for basic income per Class A unit - weighted average units	197,155	196,239	197,050	196,090
Vornado stock options and restricted unit awards	1,046	2,066	1,028	2,135
Convertible preferred units - Denominator	50	0	50	55
Denominator for diluted income per Class A unit - weighted average units and assumed conversions	198,251	198,305	198,128	198,280
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.45	$ 0.18	$ 1.40	$ 2.04
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.80	$ 0.04	$ 1.22	$ 0.85
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.25	$ 0.22	$ 2.62	$ 2.89
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.45	$ 0.18	$ 1.39	$ 2.02
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.79	$ 0.04	$ 1.21	$ 0.83
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.24	$ 0.22	$ 2.60	$ 2.85