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, Shares 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 (loss) income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	109,364					109,364
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemble partnership units	(5,287)					(5,287)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	15,882	$ 13,539						15,882
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)					(464,262)		(341)
Distributions to Vornado	(118,447)					(118,447)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(19,484)					(19,484)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					210
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	23,493				$ 23,493
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, units					165
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	9,100				$ 11,679	(2,579)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					3
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	338				$ 338
Contributions:
Contributions		51,350							$ 51,350
Distributions:
Distributions	(7,280)	(52,882)	$ (125)						(52,882)	$ (125)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				0	1
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value	0			$ (12)	$ 12
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					7
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	966				$ 1,325	(359)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(21,332)						(21,332)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	157						157
Reduction in value of interest rate swaps	(776)						(776)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	25,349				$ 25,349
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	1,288						1,288
Other	(85)						5	(90)
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2015				52,679	188,273
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2015	7,043,648			$ 1,277,014	$ 6,942,714	(2,006,439)	72,609	757,750
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015				52,677	188,577
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2015	7,476,078			$ 1,276,954	$ 7,140,500	(1,766,780)	46,921	778,483
Net (loss) income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	(101,286)					(101,286)
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemble partnership units	7,487					7,487
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	9,678	5,973						9,678
Distributions to Vornado	(118,867)					(118,867)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(20,364)					(20,364)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					157
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	14,482				$ 14,482
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, units					26
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	2,166				$ 2,166	0
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					4
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	357				$ 357
Distributions:
Distributions	(7,835)	$ (13,487)	$ (152)						$ (13,487)	$ (152)
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					7
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	350				$ 536	(186)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	11,094						11,094
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	6						6
Reduction in value of interest rate swaps	(4,195)						(4,195)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	36,524				$ 36,524
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	(427)						(427)
Other	112					2		110
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2016				52,677	188,771
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 7,299,556			$ 1,276,954	$ 7,194,565	$ (1,999,994)	$ 53,399	$ 774,632