Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 24, 2019
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36105
Entity Registrant Name	EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	37-1645259
Entity Address, Address Line One	111 West 33rd Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	12th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10120
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	687-8700
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 Central Index Key	0001541401
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Class A Common Stock
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ESRT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		179,915,389
Class B Common Stock
Title of 12(b) Security	Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,017,775