Equity (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Jun. 28, 2019 $ / shares	Mar. 29, 2019 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares shares	Sep. 28, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 29, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 29, 2017 $ / shares	Sep. 29, 2017 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2017 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	May 16, 2019 shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
OP Unit redemption for cash term													1 year
OP Unit exchange ratio to common stock	1												1
Percentage of dividends on common stock received until performance criteria met for LTIP units	10.00%												10.00%
Percentage of dividends on common stock received after performance criteria met for LTIP units	90.00%												90.00%
Percentage of dividends on common stock received in periods after performance criteria met for LTIP units	100.00%												100.00%
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common stockholders | $													$ 49,445	$ 65,603	$ 62,647
Increase in additional paid-in capital for the conversion of OP Units into common stock | $													0	0	0
Change from net income attributable to common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests | $													$ 77,185	$ 136,055	$ 86,176
OP units outstanding (shares)	299,700,000												299,700,000
OP units owned by the Company (shares)	181,900,000												181,900,000
OP units owned by the Company, percent													60.70%
OP units not owned by the Company (shares)	117,800,000												117,800,000
Costs incurred due to exchange offer | $	$ 500												$ 500
Dividends (USD per share) | $ / shares													$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 0.42
Dividends and Distributions [Abstract]
Partial dividend paid, per common share (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105
Payments of ordinary dividends, common stock | $													$ 75,192	$ 70,854	$ 66,789
Distributions paid to OP unitholders | $													50,800	54,700	59,200
Private perpetual preferred unit distributions | $													$ 1,743	$ 936	$ 936
Dividends paid, percent taxable as ordinary dividends													31.40%	83.80%	100.00%
Dividends paid, percent taxable as return of capital													68.60%	16.20%
Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	4,610,383												4,610,383
Private Perpetual Preferred Units, Series 2019
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Private perpetual preferred units, issued, shares	4,610,383												4,610,383
Private perpetual preferred units, liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 13.52												$ 13.52
Cumulative cash distributions (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.70												$ 0.70
Private Perpetual Preferred Units, Series 2014
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Private perpetual preferred units, issued, shares	1,560,360				1,560,360								1,560,360	1,560,360
Private perpetual preferred units (shares)													1,560,360
Private perpetual preferred units, liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 16.62				$ 16.62								$ 16.62	$ 16.62
Dividends (USD per share) | $ / shares													$ 0.60
Series ES Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	1,632,667												1,632,667
Series 250 Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	186,799												186,799
Series 60 Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	302,608												302,608
Series PR Operating Partnership Unit
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	2,488,309												2,488,309
Additional Paid-In Capital
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Increase in additional paid-in capital for the conversion of OP Units into common stock | $													$ 27,740	$ 70,452	$ 23,529
2019 Plan
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized under the plan (shares)	11,000,000.0												11,000,000.0			11,000,000.0
Empire State Realty Trust | Empire State Realty OP
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units owned by the Company, percent													60.70%
Other partners, certain directors, officers and other members of executive management | Empire State Realty OP
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company, percent													39.30%