Reflects the amount of cash required to fully fund agreements to provide advances to borrowers and lessees at interest rates that increase or decrease depending on certain facts or circumstances.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph m

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 825

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480020&loc=d3e61082-112788

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 825

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480020&loc=d3e61044-112788

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableCommitmentsVariableRates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the loans receivable, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s). Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

LIBOR Floor

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_LiborFloor
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership in the Mezzanine Loan Investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_MezzanineLoanOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Mezzanine Loan Receivable Weighted Average Interest Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_MezzanineLoanReceivableWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Mezzanine Loans Receiveable - Maturity End Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_MezzanineLoansReceivableMaturityDateRangeEnd
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Mezzanine Loans Receivable Maturity Date Range Start

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_MezzanineLoansReceivableMaturityDateRangeStart
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the total amount of notes and mezzanine loan receivable including the commitments made by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_NotesReceivableGrossIncludingFutureCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Mezzanine Loans Receivable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 19, 2012 NY 701 Seventh Avenue [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Oct. 19, 2012 NY 701 Seventh Avenue [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Vornado Realty Trust [Member]
Mezzanine Loans Receivable - Carrying Amount			$ 375,000	$ 93,750
Notes receivable, net	131,585	133,948
Mezzanine Loan Receivable - Weighted Average Interest Rate	9.53%
Mezzanine Loans Receiveable - Maturity Start Date	August 2014
Mezzanine Loans Receiveable - Maturity End Date	May 2016
Notes Receivable Gross Including Future Commitments			475,000
Mezzanine Loan Ownership Percentage			25.00%
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Variable Rates			$ 100,000	$ 25,000
Loans Receivable, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			10.20%
LIBOR Floor			1.00%
Loans Receivable, Description of Variable Rate Basis			LIBOR