Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	Preferred Units	Preferred Units Series J Preferred Stock	Class A Units	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	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.	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
Distributions:
Distributions	(22,502)	(70,875)	$ (397)							(70,875)	$ (397)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value				$ (41)		$ 41
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(1)		2
Deferred compensation units and options, Units						6
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	1,688					$ 2,047	(359)
Increase (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 (reduction) 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
Preferred unit issuance costs (Series J redemption)	0
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
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.	251,017						251,017
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(11,410)						(11,410)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	26,361	15,088							26,361
Distributions to Vornado	(356,863)						(356,863)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(59,774)						(59,774)
Redemption of Series J preferred units, Units					(9,850)
Redemption of Series J preferred units, Value	(246,250)				$ (238,842)		(7,408)
Class A Units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units						293
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	28,126					$ 28,126
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Units						106
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, Value	5,940					$ 5,940
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units						12
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,080					$ 1,080
Contributions:
Contributions			19,699								19,699
Distributions:
Distributions	(23,582)	$ (59,843)	$ (11,631)							$ (59,843)	$ (11,631)
Deferred compensation units and options, Units						7
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	1,185					$ 1,371	(186)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	42,798							42,798
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,537)							(1,537)
Increase (reduction) in value of interest rate swap	(3,482)							(3,482)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(30,260)					(30,260)
Redeemable partnership units' share of above adjustments	(2,326)							(2,326)
Preferred unit issuance costs (Series J redemption)	(7,408)
Other	78			$ (1)		$ 0	(7)		86
Other, Units						(1)
Ending balance, Units at Sep. 30, 2016				42,827		188,994
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 7,068,986			$ 1,038,111		$ 7,146,757	$ (1,951,411)	$ 82,374	$ 753,155