Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Income Per Share [Abstract]
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 108,152	$ 75,787	$ 395,099	$ 299,909
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	429	(3,681)	126,145	(13,251)
Net income attributable to Vornado	108,581	72,106	521,244	286,658
Preferred share dividends	(16,668)	(14,266)	(30,116)	(28,533)
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	91,913	57,840	491,128	258,125
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(48)	(29)	(184)	(49)
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share	91,865	57,811	490,944	258,076
Interest on 3.875% exchangeable senior debentures	0	0	13,090	0
Convertible preferred share dividends - Numerator	0	0	64	81
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share	$ 91,865	$ 57,811	$ 504,098	$ 258,157
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share - weighted average shares	184,268	182,027	184,129	181,786
3.875% Exchangeable Senior Debentures	0	0	5,736	0
Employee stock options and restricted share awards	1,876	1,617	1,815	1,741
Convertible preferred shares - Denominator	0	0	56	71
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total	186,144	183,644	191,736	183,598
Income from continuing operations, net	$ 0.50	$ 0.34	$ 1.98	$ 1.49
Income from discontinued operations, net - Basic	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ 0.69	$ (0.07)
Net income per common share	$ 0.50	$ 0.32	$ 2.67	$ 1.42
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net - Diluted	$ 0.49	$ 0.33	$ 1.97	$ 1.48
Income from discontinued operations, net - Diluted	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ 0.66	$ (0.07)
Net income per common share	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 2.63	$ 1.41