Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests									$ 525,584	$ 655,053	$ 59,655
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests									136,718	(7,170)	46,514
Net income attributable to Vornado									662,302	647,883	106,169
Preferred share dividends									(65,531)	(55,534)	(57,076)
Discount on preferred share and unit redemptions									5,000	4,382	0
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	69,508	41,135	91,913	399,215	243,414	95,192	57,840	200,285	601,771	596,731	49,093
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities									(221)	(120)	(184)
Numerator for basic income per share									601,550	596,611	48,909
Convertible preferred share dividends - Numerator									124	160	0
Numerator for diluted income per share									$ 601,674	$ 596,771	$ 48,909
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares									184,308	182,340	171,595
Employee stock options and restricted share awards									1,658	1,748	1,908
Convertible preferred shares - Denominator									55	71	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total									186,021	184,159	173,503
Income from continuing operations, net									$ 2.52	$ 3.31	$ 0.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net									$ 0.74	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27
Net income per common share	$ 0.38	$ 0.22	$ 0.50	$ 2.17	$ 1.33	$ 0.52	$ 0.32	$ 1.10	$ 3.26	$ 3.27	$ 0.28
Income from continuing operations, net									$ 2.50	$ 3.28	$ 0.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net									$ 0.73	$ (0.04)	$ 0.27
Net income per common share	$ 0.37	$ 0.22	$ 0.49	$ 2.12	$ 1.31	$ 0.52	$ 0.31	$ 1.09	$ 3.23	$ 3.24	$ 0.28