Cleveland Medical Mart Development Project (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Development And Project Management Revenues	$ 32,369	$ 0	$ 73,068	$ 0
Development And Project Management Expenses	29,940	0	68,218	0
Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center [Member]
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property			1,000,000
Construction Costs Budgeted			465,000
Annual Net Settled Payments Received			10,000
Annual Obligation to the County			36,000
Commitments to Fund Improvments			$ 11,500
Development and Operating Period			17Y

The amount of square footage related to a real estate property.

Name:	us-gaap_SquareFootageOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the annual net settled payment received

+ Details

Name:	vno_AnnualNetSettledPaymentsReceived
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the total annual obligation to the County related to the development and management of the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center

+ Details

Name:	vno_AnnualObligationToTheCounty
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional commitments to fund tenant improvements

+ Details

Name:	vno_CommitmentsToFundImprovments
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total construction cost budgeted for the project

+ Details

Name:	vno_ConstructionCostsBudgeted
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total number of years anticipated to develop and operate the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center

+ Details

Name:	vno_DevelopmentAndOperatingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses related to development, leasing, marketing and and property management services related to a project

+ Details

Name:	vno_DevelopmentAndProjectManagementExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues related to providing development, marketing, leasing and other property management services for a project.

+ Details

Name:	vno_DevelopmentAndProjectManagementRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	vno
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration