Deferred Costs, Acquired Lease Intangibles and Goodwill - Schedule of Deferred Costs, Net (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Leasing costs	$ 112,986us-gaap_DeferredCostsLeasingGross	$ 100,653us-gaap_DeferredCostsLeasingGross
Financing costs	18,824us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross	17,334us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Total deferred costs, Gross Amount	131,810esrt_DeferredCostsGross	117,987esrt_DeferredCostsGross
Leasing costs, Accumulated Amortization	(31,487)	(33,439)
Financing costs, Accumulated Amortization	(4,772)	(4,336)
Total deferred costs, Accumulated Amortization	$ (36,259)	$ (37,775)

Accumulated Amortization, Deferred Costs

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- Definition

Deferred Costs, Gross

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the accumulated amortization, as of the reporting date, representing the periodic charge to earnings of deferred costs which are associated with debt obligations existing as of the end of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the accumulated amortization, as of the reporting date, which represents the periodic charge to earnings of initial direct costs which have been deferred and are being allocated over the lease term in proportion to the recognition of rental income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453741&loc=d3e40879-112712

Reference 2: 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

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- 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 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6748888&loc=d3e40246-112709

Reference 2: 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

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- 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

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