Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	Preferred Units	Class A Units Owned By Vornado	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Other
Beginning balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2013				52,683	187,285
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 7,594,744			$ 1,277,225	$ 7,151,309	$ (1,734,839)	$ 71,537	$ 829,512
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	347,801					347,801
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(16,552)					(16,552)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	85,239	$ 81,217						85,239
Distributions to Vornado	(410,724)					(410,724)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(61,099)					(61,099)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					227
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	22,668				$ 22,668
Under Vornado's Employees' share option plan, Units					199
Under Vornado's Employees' share option plan, Value	12,350				$ 12,350
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					13
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,387				$ 1,387
Contributions:
Contributions		5,297	$ 5,000						$ 5,297	$ 5,000
Distribution:
Distributions	(25,166)	(182,964)	(643)						(182,964)	(643)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund investments	(33,028)							(33,028)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(4)	6
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value				$ (193)	$ 193
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					5
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	4,306				$ 4,646	(340)
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(7,761)						(7,761)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(151)						(151)
Increase in value of interest rate swap	5,846						5,846
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(144,231)				(144,231)
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	109						109
Other	(2,675)			$ (6)	$ (297)	(2,372)
Ending balance, Units at Sep. 30, 2014				52,679	187,735
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2014	7,224,919			$ 1,277,026	$ 7,048,025	(1,878,125)	69,580	708,413
Beginning balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2014				52,679	187,887
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2014	7,489,382			$ 1,277,026	$ 6,880,518	(1,505,385)	93,267	743,956
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	537,516					537,516
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(28,189)					(28,189)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	38,370	29,453						38,370
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)					(464,262)		(341)
Distributions to Vornado	(355,945)					(355,945)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(60,213)					(60,213)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					437
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	46,693				$ 46,693
Under Vornado's Employees' share option plan, Units					198
Under Vornado's Employees' share option plan, Value	11,626				$ 14,205	(2,579)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					11
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,068				$ 1,068
Contributions:
Contributions		51,725							51,725
Distribution:
Distributions	(22,502)	$ (70,875)	$ (397)						$ (70,875)	$ (397)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund investments	0
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(1)	2
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value				$ (41)	$ 41
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					6
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	1,688				$ 2,047	(359)
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(53,396)						(53,396)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,148)						(1,148)
Increase in value of interest rate swap	1,783						1,783
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	295,713				$ 295,713
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	3,082						3,082
Other	621					700	5	(84)
Ending balance, Units at Sep. 30, 2015				52,678	188,541
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 7,444,501			$ 1,276,985	$ 7,240,285	$ (1,878,716)	$ 43,593	$ 762,354