Mezzanine Loans Receivable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable	$ 225,359	$ 133,948
Mezzanine Loans Receiveable - Maturity Start Date	August 2014
Mezzanine Loans Receiveable - Maturity End Date	May 2016
Mezzanine Loan Receivable Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.28%
NY 701 Seventh Avenue [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mezzanine Loans Receivable - Carrying Amount	375,000
Notes Receivable Gross Including Future Commitments	475,000
Mezzanine Loan Ownership Percentage	25.00%
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Variable Rates	100,000
Loans Receivable, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	10.20%
LIBOR Floor	1.00%
LoansReceivableDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis	LIBOR
NY 701 Seventh Avenue [Member] \| Vornado Realty Trust [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mezzanine Loans Receivable - Carrying Amount	93,750
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Variable Rates	$ 25,000

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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.

+ References

Reference 1: 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 2: 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 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

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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

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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

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

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. 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. Excludes 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

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph 3

-Article 9

+ Details

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

- Definition

Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

+ Details

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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 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
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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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

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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