Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Properties	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 sqft Properties	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	$ 492,989	$ 507,258	$ 1,469,751	$ 1,517,994
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	11,910	7,087	55,189	26,192
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	13,242	15,847	39,228	48,681
Total rentals	518,141	530,192	1,564,168	1,592,867
Tenant expense reimbursements	80,497	85,757	224,287	237,945
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	72,651	35,135	184,014	108,203
Tenant cleaning fees	16,945	15,647	49,437	46,479
Signage Revenue	4,783	5,085	14,252	14,746
Management and leasing fees	7,234	4,773	16,534	16,660
Lease termination fees	282	4,803	1,172	12,478
Other	10,444	6,468	24,623	21,450
Total revenues	710,977	687,860	2,078,487	2,050,828
Operating expenses	264,487	262,837	764,018	773,331
Depreciation and amortization	124,335	126,935	386,974	373,380
General and administrative	48,742	46,121	151,142	154,359
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	70,431	33,419	177,127	101,637
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs	1,070	2,288	4,314	22,455
Total expenses	509,065	471,600	1,483,575	1,425,162
Operating income	201,912	216,260	594,912	625,666
Income from partially owned entities	12,683	3,836	142,187	135,829
Income from Real Estate Fund (of which $4,787 and $3,675 in each three-month period, respectively, and $25,026 and $15,703 in each nine-month period, respectively, are attributable to noncontrolling interests)	5,509	5,353	37,572	25,491
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	10,523	(30,011)	(22,984)	95,086
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(120,770)	(131,998)	(377,600)	(394,192)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	0	1,298	4,856	7,975
Income loss before income taxes	109,857	64,738	378,943	495,855
Income tax expense	(3,015)	(6,959)	(17,319)	(18,548)
Income from continuing operations	106,842	57,779	361,624	477,307
Income from discontinued operations	157,314	8,444	241,024	165,706
Net income	264,156	66,223	602,648	643,013
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(6,610)	(5,636)	(30,928)	(20,643)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions	(16,240)	(6,825)	(40,595)	(47,364)
Net income attributable to Vornado	241,306	53,762	531,125	575,006
Interest and debt expense (2)	183,241	197,864	567,265	599,668
Depreciation and amortization (2)	177,593	193,394	552,794	561,738
Income tax expense	3,850	(7,350)	50,076	42,135
EBITDA	605,990	437,670	1,701,260	1,778,547
Real Estate Properties Abstract
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property Reclassed			1,000,000
Number Of Real Estate Properties Reclassed	21		21
Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations	157,314	8,444	241,024	165,706
Interest and debt expense (2)	3,799	4,732	11,415	17,917
Depreciation and amortization (2)	3,560	9,236	14,818	26,916
Income tax expense	11,437	185	12,207	1,000
EBITDA	(176,110)	(22,597)	(279,464)	(211,539)
Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	429,880	415,073	1,421,796	1,567,008
Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	21,268	13,140	53,491	55,035
New York Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	255,703	247,794	735,587	727,886
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	8,140	6,445	42,334	22,636
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	8,458	9,833	23,776	33,173
Total rentals	272,301	264,072	801,697	783,695
Tenant expense reimbursements	45,164	49,125	118,861	125,921
Tenant cleaning fees	23,918	22,571	70,476	66,913
Signage Revenue	4,783	5,085	14,252	14,746
Management and leasing fees	1,816	1,022	4,037	3,560
Lease termination fees	78	3,540	334	9,176
Other	1,116	1,049	3,449	3,391
Total revenues	349,176	346,464	1,013,106	1,007,402
Operating expenses	159,048	152,880	447,910	435,519
Depreciation and amortization	57,967	55,685	168,391	165,031
General and administrative	6,739	6,452	21,980	20,409
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs		1,558		16,558
Total expenses	223,754	216,575	638,281	637,517
Operating income	125,422	129,889	374,825	369,885
Income from partially owned entities	9,309	1,203	20,345	13,320
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	1,057	1,047	3,166	3,169
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(36,817)	(39,088)	(109,365)	(114,381)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets			0
Income loss before income taxes	98,971	93,051	288,971	271,993
Income tax expense	(815)	(678)	(2,480)	(1,637)
Income from continuing operations	98,156	92,373	286,491	270,356
Income from discontinued operations	0	165	(640)	398
Net income	98,156	92,538	285,851	270,754
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(2,092)	(2,219)	(7,266)	(6,815)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions			0
Net income attributable to Vornado	96,064	90,319	278,585	263,939
Interest and debt expense (2)	46,823	46,691	140,294	132,248
Depreciation and amortization (2)	62,905	65,539	188,480	181,611
Income tax expense	871	734	2,677	1,644
EBITDA	206,663	203,283	610,036	579,442
New York Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	0	(276)	640	(710)
New York Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	206,663	203,007	610,676	578,732
New York Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	9,309	1,203	20,345	13,320
Washington DC Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	115,641	133,659	356,459	400,909
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	1,267	(1,308)	4,382	(2,138)
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	506	557	1,537	1,597
Total rentals	117,414	132,908	362,378	400,368
Tenant expense reimbursements	9,601	9,640	30,471	27,242
Management and leasing fees	4,615	2,670	9,782	9,629
Lease termination fees	128	1,002	256	3,013
Other	8,288	5,039	18,846	15,316
Total revenues	140,046	151,259	421,733	455,568
Operating expenses	50,305	49,013	143,923	142,211
Depreciation and amortization	29,825	32,346	107,395	96,940
General and administrative	6,668	6,502	19,849	19,496
Total expenses	86,798	87,861	271,167	258,647
Operating income	53,248	63,398	150,566	196,921
Income from partially owned entities	(2,182)	(1,356)	(4,571)	(6,038)
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	24	39	97	119
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(28,311)	(28,928)	(85,408)	(85,971)
Income loss before income taxes	22,779	33,153	60,684	105,031
Income tax expense	25	(881)	(1,277)	(2,055)
Income from continuing operations	22,804	32,272	59,407	102,976
Income from discontinued operations	126,437	1,622	130,979	51,274
Net income	149,241	33,894	190,386	154,250
Net income attributable to Vornado	149,241	33,894	190,386	154,250
Interest and debt expense (2)	33,280	33,703	99,486	100,017
Depreciation and amortization (2)	35,071	38,085	122,987	118,290
Income tax expense	(25)	925	1,532	2,380
EBITDA	217,567	106,607	414,391	374,937
Washington DC Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	(128,745)	(4,568)	(138,707)	(60,220)
Washington DC Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	88,822	102,039	275,684	314,717
Washington DC Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(2,182)	(1,356)	(4,571)	(6,038)
Retail Properties Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	67,919	67,616	203,237	202,701
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	2,392	1,911	7,285	4,666
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	2,868	4,346	9,648	10,552
Total rentals	73,179	73,873	220,170	217,919
Tenant expense reimbursements	21,069	23,059	64,915	71,926
Management and leasing fees	736	755	2,640	3,068
Lease termination fees	73	261	74	289
Other	632	229	1,361	1,172
Total revenues	95,689	98,177	289,160	294,374
Operating expenses	33,519	37,415	104,788	113,167
Depreciation and amortization	18,202	20,414	56,830	57,472
General and administrative	6,103	6,088	18,803	20,046
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs		35		35
Total expenses	57,824	63,952	180,421	190,720
Operating income	37,865	34,225	108,739	103,654
Income from partially owned entities	342	575	1,040	1,221
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	4	1	24	1
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(14,732)	(17,639)	(49,705)	(53,024)
Income loss before income taxes	23,479	17,162	60,098	51,852
Income tax expense				(5)
Income from continuing operations	23,479	17,162	60,098	51,847
Income from discontinued operations	11,085	6,272	36,404	26,010
Net income	34,564	23,434	96,502	77,857
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	97	110	308	196
Net income attributable to Vornado	34,661	23,544	96,810	78,053
Interest and debt expense (2)	17,499	20,678	58,039	62,144
Depreciation and amortization (2)	21,345	24,117	65,751	68,294
Income tax expense	0	0	0	5
EBITDA	73,505	68,339	220,600	208,496
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	(15,160)	(11,288)	(48,251)	(40,988)
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	58,345	57,051	172,349	167,508
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	342	575	1,040	1,221
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	31,625	35,586	107,687	118,540
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	(171)	(501)	580	(1,261)
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	0
Total rentals	31,454	35,085	108,267	117,279
Tenant expense reimbursements	1,201	1,681	3,702	4,988
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	72,651	35,135	184,014	108,203
Management and leasing fees	142	45	188	348
Lease termination fees	3		508
Other	481	543	1,221	1,791
Total revenues	105,932	72,489	297,900	232,609
Operating expenses	19,130	21,289	59,929	71,210
Depreciation and amortization	7,439	7,642	22,324	21,594
General and administrative	4,120	9,206	14,877	22,659
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	70,431	33,419	177,127	101,637
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs				3,040
Total expenses	101,120	71,556	274,257	220,140
Operating income	4,812	933	23,643	12,469
Income from partially owned entities	219	38	560	292
Interest and other investment income (loss), net		1		1
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(7,906)	(7,866)	(23,467)	(23,342)
Income loss before income taxes	(2,875)	(6,894)	736	(10,580)
Income tax expense	2,166	(784)	343	(1,523)
Income from continuing operations	(709)	(7,678)	1,079	(12,103)
Income from discontinued operations	19,792	483	67,291	88,365
Net income	19,083	(7,195)	68,370	76,262
Net income attributable to Vornado	19,083	(7,195)	68,370	76,262
Interest and debt expense (2)	8,916	9,523	26,492	32,025
Depreciation and amortization (2)	7,662	12,230	26,966	34,632
Income tax expense	9,281	890	11,658	2,211
EBITDA	44,942	15,448	133,486	145,130
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	(32,205)	(6,563)	(86,156)	(109,962)
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	12,737	8,885	47,330	35,168
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	219	38	560	292
Toys R Us Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Income loss before income taxes	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Income tax expense	0
Income from continuing operations	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Income from discontinued operations	0
Net income	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Net income attributable to Vornado	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Interest and debt expense (2)	34,526	38,018	103,388	121,546
Depreciation and amortization (2)	33,160	34,293	100,371	101,862
Income tax expense	(11,118)	(15,135)	17,982	29,914
EBITDA	47,983	47,872	310,437	334,116
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	0
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	47,983	47,872	310,437	334,116
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(8,585)	(9,304)	88,696	80,794
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	22,101	22,603	66,781	67,958
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	282	540	608	2,289
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	1,410	1,111	4,267	3,359
Total rentals	23,793	24,254	71,656	73,606
Tenant expense reimbursements	3,462	2,252	6,338	7,868
Tenant cleaning fees	(6,973)	(6,924)	(21,039)	(20,434)
Management and leasing fees	(75)	281	(113)	55
Other	(73)	(392)	(254)	(220)
Total revenues	20,134	19,471	56,588	60,875
Operating expenses	2,485	2,240	7,468	11,224
Depreciation and amortization	10,902	10,848	32,034	32,343
General and administrative	25,112	17,873	75,633	71,749
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs	1,070	695	4,314	2,822
Total expenses	39,569	31,656	119,449	118,138
Operating income	(19,435)	(12,185)	(62,861)	(57,263)
Income from partially owned entities	13,580	12,680	36,117	46,240
Income from Real Estate Fund (of which $4,787 and $3,675 in each three-month period, respectively, and $25,026 and $15,703 in each nine-month period, respectively, are attributable to noncontrolling interests)	5,509	5,353	37,572	25,491
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	9,438	(31,099)	(26,271)	91,796
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,725 and $4,670, in each three-month period, respectively, and $17,204 and $14,093 in each nine-month period, respectively)	(33,004)	(38,477)	(109,655)	(117,474)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets		1,298	4,856	7,975
Income loss before income taxes	(23,912)	(62,430)	(120,242)	(3,235)
Income tax expense	(4,391)	(4,616)	(13,905)	(13,328)
Income from continuing operations	(28,303)	(67,046)	(134,147)	(16,563)
Income from discontinued operations	0	(98)	6,990	(341)
Net income	(28,303)	(67,144)	(127,157)	(16,904)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(4,615)	(3,527)	(23,970)	(14,024)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions	(16,240)	(6,825)	(40,595)	(47,364)
Net income attributable to Vornado	(49,158)	(77,496)	(191,722)	(78,292)
Interest and debt expense (2)	42,197	49,251	139,566	151,688
Depreciation and amortization (2)	17,450	19,130	48,239	57,049
Income tax expense	4,841	5,236	16,227	5,981
EBITDA	15,330	(3,879)	12,310	136,426
Other Segment [Member] | Discontinued Operation or Asset Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	0	98	(6,990)	341
Other Segment [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
EBITDA	15,330	(3,781)	5,320	136,767
Other Segment [Member] | Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	0		0
Other Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	$ 13,580	$ 12,680	$ 36,117	$ 46,240