Deferred Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred leasing	$ 415,406	$ 385,555
Deferred financing	241,775	193,776
Deferred costs, gross	657,181	579,331
Less accumulated amortization	(286,746)	(251,369)
Deferred costs, net	$ 370,435	$ 327,962

The accumulated amortization, as of the reporting date, representing the periodic charge to earnings of deferred costs.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the gross amount of deferred costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	slg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of deferred costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, this element represents costs incurred by the lessor that are (a) costs to originate a lease incurred in transactions with independent third parties that (i) result directly from and are essential to acquire that lease and (ii) would not have been incurred had that leasing transaction not occurred and (b) certain costs directly related to specified activities performed by the lessor for that lease. Those activities are: evaluating the prospective lessee's financial condition; evaluating and recording guarantees, collateral, and other security arrangements; negotiating lease terms; preparing and processing lease documents; and closing the transaction. This amount is before considering accumulated amortization representing the periodic charge to earnings to recognize the deferred costs over the term of the related lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6748888&loc=d3e40588-112709

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6748888&loc=d3e40246-112709

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments (for example, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs) that will be charged against earnings over the life of the debt instruments to which such costs pertain. Such amount is before the consideration of accumulated amortization.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant