Vornado Capital Partners Real Estate Fund (the "Fund") (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Vornado Realty Trust Excluding Real Estate Fund [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Real Estate Fund [Member] Investments	Mar. 31, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Real Estate Fund [Member] Operating Income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member] Operating Income [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Real Estate Fund [Member] Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Real Estate Fund [Member] Unrealized Gain From Mark To Market [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Vornado Realty Trust [Member]
Capital Commitments For Real Estate Fund							$ 800,000,000					$ 200,000,000
Term of the Fund, years					8 years
Number Of Investments Made By Fund					5
Investment period for commitments of the Fund, years					3 years
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	324,514,000		346,650,000		324,514,000
Excess Of Fair Value Over Cost					18,839,000
Unfunded Commitments Of Fund				111,419,750	445,679,000
Details of Income From Vornado Capital Partners Real Estate Fund [Abstract]
Income from Real Estate Fund	11,762,000	1,080,000						4,918,000	1,080,000	6,844,000	0
Less (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9,597,000)	(1,350,000)			(7,933,000)	74,000
Income From Real Estate Fund Attributable To Parent Company					3,829,000	1,154,000
Fee and Other Income	$ 33,387,000	$ 34,263,000			$ 541,000	$ 579,000