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 [Member]	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, 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.	305,578					305,578
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(15,485)					(15,485)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	35,068	$ 29,411						35,068
Distribution of Urban Edge properties	(464,603)					(464,262)		(341)
Distributions to Vornado	(237,160)					(237,160)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(39,849)					(39,849)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					400
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	43,278				$ 43,278
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Shares					195
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Value	10,400				$ 12,979	(2,579)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					7
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	701				$ 701
Contributions:
Contributions		51,725							$ 51,725
Distributions:
Distributions	(14,734)	(62,495)	$ (255)						(62,495)	$ (255)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Shares				(1)	1
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value				$ (16)	$ 16
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					7
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	1,295				$ 1,654	(359)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(46,332)						(46,332)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,034)						(1,034)
Increase (reduction) in value of interest rate swap	2,073						2,073
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	229,521				$ 229,521
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	2,635						2,635
Other	867					955	4	(92)
Ending balance, Units at Jun. 30, 2015				52,678	188,497
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2015	7,305,310			$ 1,277,010	$ 7,168,667	(1,958,546)	50,613	767,566
Beginning balance, Units 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 income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	154,071					154,071
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(7,044)					(7,044)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	22,703	14,818						22,703
Distributions to Vornado	(237,832)					(237,832)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(40,727)					(40,727)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					195
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	18,208				$ 18,208
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Shares					38
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Value	3,093				$ 3,093
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					8
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	717				$ 717
Contributions:
Contributions			19,674							19,674
Distributions:
Distributions	(15,763)	$ (56,533)	$ (10,970)						$ (56,533)	$ (10,970)
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					7
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	768				$ 954	(186)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	39,113						39,113
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(622)						(622)
Increase (reduction) in value of interest rate swap	(11,170)						(11,170)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(20,369)				(20,369)
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	(1,685)						(1,685)
Other	102				$ (1)	(7)	(1)	111
Other, Shares					1
Ending balance, Units at Jun. 30, 2016				52,677	188,826
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 7,347,575			$ 1,276,954	$ 7,143,102	$ (1,898,505)	$ 72,556	$ 753,468