Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES:
Property rentals									$ 2,085,582	$ 2,114,255	$ 2,093,475
Tenant expense reimbursements									301,092	314,752	317,777
Cleveland Medical Mart development project									235,234	154,080	0
Fee and other income									144,549	149,749	146,955
Total revenues	697,654	710,538	683,985	674,280	689,959	689,190	679,084	674,603	2,766,457	2,732,836	2,558,207
EXPENSES:
Operating									1,021,719	995,586	983,424
Depreciation and amortization									517,811	524,550	494,898
General and administrative									201,894	208,008	211,399
Cleveland Medical Mart development project									226,619	145,824	0
Impairment losses, acquisition related costs and tenant buy-outs									120,786	35,299	109,458
Total expenses									2,088,829	1,909,267	1,799,179
Operating income									677,628	823,569	759,028
Income from partially owned entities									423,126	118,612	92,493
Income (loss) from Real Estate Fund									63,936	22,886	(303)
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net									(260,945)	148,784	235,267
Interest and debt expense									(500,361)	(526,175)	(539,370)
Net gain on extinguishment of debt									0	0	94,789
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets									13,347	15,134	81,432
Income before income taxes									416,731	602,810	723,336
Income tax expense									(8,132)	(23,925)	(22,137)
Income from continuing operations									408,599	578,885	701,199
Income from discontinued operations									285,942	161,115	6,832
Net income									694,541	740,000	708,031
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in:
Consolidated subsidiaries									(32,018)	(21,786)	(4,920)
Operating Partnership									(35,327)	(41,059)	(44,033)
Preferred unit distributions of the Operating Partnership									(9,936)	(14,853)	(11,195)
Net income attributable to Vornado									617,260	662,302	647,883
Preferred share dividends									(76,937)	(65,531)	(55,534)
Discount on preferred share and unit redemptions									8,948	5,000	4,382
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	62,633	232,393	20,510	233,735	69,508	41,135	91,913	399,215	549,271	601,771	596,731
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)									$ 1.50	$ 2.44	$ 3.24
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)									$ 1.45	$ 0.82	$ 0.03
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 1.25	$ 0.11	$ 1.26	$ 0.38	$ 0.22	$ 0.50	$ 2.17	$ 2.95	$ 3.26	$ 3.27
Weighted average shares outstanding									185,810	184,308	182,340
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)									$ 1.49	$ 2.42	$ 3.21
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)									$ 1.45	$ 0.81	$ 0.03
Net income per common share	$ 0.33	$ 1.24	$ 0.11	$ 1.25	$ 0.37	$ 0.22	$ 0.49	$ 2.12	$ 2.94	$ 3.23	$ 3.24
Weighted average shares outstanding									186,530	186,021	184,159
Toys R Us [Member]
EXPENSES:
Income from partially owned entities									14,859	48,540	71,624
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
EXPENSES:
Income from partially owned entities									$ 408,267	$ 70,072	$ 20,869