Income Per Class A Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Per Unit [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries									$ 79,339	$ 370,170	$ 552,773
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries									421,449	292,353	165,441
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.									500,788	662,523	718,214
Preferred unit distributions									(83,965)	(86,873)	(80,384)
Preferred unit redemptions									(1,130)	8,948	5,000
Net income attributable to Class A unitholders	(73,042)	88,037	154,775	245,923	66,515	247,230	21,847	249,006	415,693	584,598	642,830
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities									(2,705)	(3,413)	(3,177)
Numerator for basic income per Class A unit									412,988	581,185	639,653
Convertible preferred unit distributions									0	113	124
Numerator for diluted income per Class A unit									$ 412,988	$ 581,298	$ 639,777
Denominator for basic income per Class A unit - weighted average units (in units)									197,551	197,082	196,139
Vornado stock options and restricted unit awards (in units)									1,092	1,002	2,033
Convertible preferred units									0	50	55
Denominator for diluted income per Class A unit - weighted average units and assumed conversions (in units)									198,643	198,134	198,227
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT - BASIC
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per unit)									(0.04)	1.47	2.42
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per unit)									2.13	1.48	0.84
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.37)	$ 0.44	$ 0.78	$ 1.24	$ 0.33	$ 1.25	$ 0.11	$ 1.26	$ 2.09	$ 2.95	$ 3.26
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT - DILUTED
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per unit)									(0.04)	1.45	2.39
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per unit)									2.12	1.48	0.84
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.37)	$ 0.44	$ 0.78	$ 1.23	$ 0.33	$ 1.24	$ 0.11	$ 1.25	$ 2.08	$ 2.93	$ 3.23