Cover - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 18, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0001541401
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
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	850-2600
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
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
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 2,068,792
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Stockholders' Meeting (which is scheduled to be held on May 12, 2022 virtually via a live webcast) to be filed within 120 days after the end of the Registrant's fiscal year are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
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		169,133,348
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
Title of 12(b) Security	Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		995,210