Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Commercial real estate properties, at cost:
Land	$ 201,196	$ 201,196
Development costs	7,986	7,951
Building and improvements	2,458,473	2,249,482
Commercial real estate properties, at cost, gross	2,667,655	2,458,629
Less: accumulated depreciation	(656,900)	(556,546)
Commercial real estate properties, net	2,010,755	1,902,083
Cash and cash equivalents	464,344	554,371
Restricted cash	65,853	61,514
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance of $1,422 and $3,333 in 2017 and 2016, respectively	28,329	22,542
Deferred rent receivables, net of allowance of $185 and $390 in 2017 and 2016, respectively	178,629	152,074
Prepaid expenses and other assets	61,028	53,749
Deferred costs, net	262,701	277,081
Acquired below market ground leases, net	368,229	376,060
Goodwill	491,479	491,479
Total assets	3,931,347	3,890,953
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net	717,164	759,016
Senior unsecured notes, net	707,895	590,388
Unsecured term loan facility, net	263,662	262,927
Unsecured revolving credit facility	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	110,849	134,064
Acquired below market leases, net	66,047	82,300
Deferred revenue and other liabilities	40,907	32,212
Tenants’ security deposits	47,086	47,183
Total liabilities	1,953,610	1,908,090
Commitments and contingencies
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	1,128,460	1,104,463
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,555)	(2,789)
Retained earnings	46,762	50,904
Total Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	1,168,282	1,154,136
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership	801,451	820,723
Private perpetual preferred units, $16.62 per unit liquidation preference, 1,560,360 issued and outstanding in 2017 and 2016	8,004	8,004
Total equity	1,977,737	1,982,863
Total liabilities and equity	3,931,347	3,890,953
Common Class A [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,604	1,547
Common Class B [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 11	$ 11