Income Per Class A Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Per Class A Unit [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations									$ 408,599	$ 578,885	$ 701,199
Income from discontinued operations									285,942	161,115	6,832
Net income									694,541	740,000	708,031
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries									(32,018)	(21,786)	(4,920)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.									662,523	718,214	703,111
Preferred unit distributions									(86,873)	(80,384)	(66,729)
Discount on preferred unit redemptions									8,948	5,000	4,382
NET INCOME attributable to Class A unitholders	66,515	247,230	21,847	249,006	74,182	43,932	98,196	426,520	584,598	642,830	640,764
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities									(3,413)	(3,177)	(3,883)
Numerator for basic income per Class A unit									581,185	639,653	636,881
Convertible preferred unit distributions - Numerator									113	124	160
Numerator for diluted income per Class A unit									$ 581,298	$ 639,777	$ 637,041
Denominator for basic income per Class A unit - weighted average units									197,082	196,139	195,002
Vornado stock options and restricted unit awards									1,002	2,033	2,287
Convertible preferred units - Denominator									50	55	71
Denominator for diluted income per Class A unit - weighted average units and assumed conversions									198,134	198,227	197,360
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per unit)									1.50	2.44	3.23
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)									1.45	0.82	0.04
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	0.33	1.25	0.11	1.26	0.37	0.22	0.50	2.17	2.95	3.26	3.27
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per unit)									1.49	2.42	3.19
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)									1.44	0.81	0.04
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	0.33	1.24	0.11	1.25	0.37	0.22	0.49	2.12	2.93	3.23	3.23