Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Income Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 93,433	$ 45,553	$ 303,755	$ 418,163
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	147,873	8,209	227,370	156,843
Net income attributable to Vornado	241,306	53,762	531,125	575,006
Preferred share dividends	(20,613)	(17,627)	(56,187)	(47,743)
Discount on preferred unit redemptions	11,700	5,000	11,700	5,000
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	232,393	41,135	486,638	532,263
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(71)	(48)	(149)	(199)
Numerator for basic income per share	232,322	41,087	486,489	532,064
Convertible preferred share dividends - Numerator	28	0	85	94
Numerator for diluted income per share	$ 232,350	$ 41,087	$ 486,574	$ 532,158
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares	185,924	184,398	185,656	184,220
Employee stock options and restricted share awards	681	1,667	693	1,764
Convertible preferred shares - Denominator	50	0	50	55
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total	186,655	186,065	186,399	186,039
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.18	$ 1.40	$ 2.04
Income from discontinued operations, net - Basic	$ 0.80	$ 0.04	$ 1.22	$ 0.85
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25	$ 0.22	$ 2.62	$ 2.89
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.18	$ 1.39	$ 2.02
Income from discontinued operations, net - Diluted	$ 0.79	$ 0.04	$ 1.22	$ 0.84
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.24	$ 0.22	$ 2.61	$ 2.86