Vornado Capital Partners, L.P. and Vornado Capital Partners Parallel, L.P. (the "Fund") (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member] One Park Avenue [Member]	Mar. 01, 2011 One Park Avenue [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2011 One Park Avenue [Member] Vornado Realty Trust Excluding Real Estate Fund [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Inception to Date [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Operating Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Operating Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Operating Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Operating Income [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Realized Gain [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Realized Gain [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Realized Gain [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Realized Gain [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property						932,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End						5.00%
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price						$ 374,000,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid						137,000,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Liabilities Incurred						250,000,000
Equity method ownership percentage					64.70%	95.00%	30.30%
Vornado Capital Partners LP and Vornado Capital Partners LP [Line Items]
Vornado Total Equity Commitments For The Fund	200,000,000		200,000,000
Total expected equity commitments for the Fund	800,000,000		800,000,000
Investment period for commitments of the Fund, years	3		3
Term of the Fund, years	8		8
Proceeds From Partnership Contribution												256,100,000
Vornado's contribution to the Real Estate Fund												64,031,000
Number Of Investments Made By Fund			5
Investments Made By The Fund	261,417,000		261,417,000
Details of Income From Vornado Capital Partners LP and Vornado Capital Partners Parallel LP [Line Items]
Income from Real Estate Fund	5,353,000	(1,410,000)	25,491,000	(1,410,000)									(286,000)	(1,410,000)	3,197,000	(1,410,000)	0	0	3,085,000	0	5,639,000	0	19,209,000	0
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	5,636,000	296,000	20,643,000	1,490,000				3,675,000	(1,091,000)	15,703,000	(1,091,000)
Income From Real Estate Fund Attributable To Parent Company	1,678,000	(319,000)	9,788,000	(319,000)
Fee and Other Income	$ 37,006,000	$ 32,266,000	$ 112,239,000	$ 104,838,000				$ 378,000		$ 1,803,000