Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 07, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-13199
Entity Registrant Name	SL GREEN REALTY CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3956775
Entity Address, Address Line One	420 Lexington Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10170
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	594-2700
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,250,611
Entity Central Index Key	0001040971
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	SLG
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	SLG.PRI
Title of 12(b) Security	6.500% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
SL Green Operating Partnership
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	33-167793-02
Entity Registrant Name	SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3960938
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,025,366
Entity Central Index Key	0001492869
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false