Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule of prior period revisions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Other assets	$ 21,977		$ 21,977		$ 21,120
Total assets	1,464,730		1,464,730		1,280,615
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion	1,121,433		1,121,433		856,108
Total liabilities	1,663,327		1,663,327		1,402,776
Total stockholders' equity	(198,597)		(198,597)		(122,161)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency	1,464,730		1,464,730		1,280,615
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses	86,298	$ 79,352	250,048	$ 233,449
Operating income (loss)	69,364	69,367	202,243	168,888
Equity in losses from investments	(1,526)	(1,103)	(2,108)	(2,654)
Other, net	1,328	1,342	2,956	5,100
Income before provision for income taxes	39,023	29,804	121,119	94,774
Income tax expense	13,316	13,694	46,682	37,739
Net income	25,707	16,110	74,437	57,035
Net income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	23,175	12,466	66,528	51,294
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	1,683	(24,282)	1,457	(19,073)
Comprehensive income (loss)	27,390	(8,172)	75,894	37,962
Comprehensive (loss) income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	$ 24,858	(11,816)	$ 67,985	32,221
As Previously Reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Other assets					51,261
Total assets					1,310,756
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion					886,249
Total liabilities					1,432,917
Total stockholders' equity					(122,161)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency					1,310,756
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses		79,114		232,737
Operating income (loss)		69,605		169,600
Equity in losses from investments		(579)		(2,273)
Other, net		133		3,554
Income before provision for income taxes		29,357		94,321
Income tax expense		13,508		37,551
Net income		15,849		56,770
Net income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		12,205		51,029
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(23,890)		(24,672)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(8,041)		32,098
Comprehensive (loss) income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		(11,685)		26,357
Revision | Adoption of Equity Method
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses		238		712
Operating income (loss)		(238)		(712)
Equity in losses from investments		(524)		(381)
Other, net		1,209		1,546
Income before provision for income taxes		447		453
Income tax expense		186		188
Net income		261		265
Net income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		261		265
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(392)		5,599
Comprehensive income (loss)		(131)		5,864
Comprehensive (loss) income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		$ (131)		$ 5,864
Revision | ASU 2015-03
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Other assets					(30,141)
Total assets					(30,141)
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion					(30,141)
Total liabilities					(30,141)
Total stockholders' equity					0
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency					$ (30,141)