Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 67,592	$ 183,628
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	195,330	67,894
Net income attributable to Vornado	262,922	251,522
Preferred share dividends	(21,702)	(17,787)
Preferred share redemptions	(9,230)	0
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	231,990	233,735
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(56)	(69)
Numerator for basic income per share	231,934	233,666
Interest on 3.88% exchangeable senior debentures	0	6,626
Convertible preferred share dividends	28	29
Numerator for diluted income per share	$ 231,962	$ 240,321
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares	186,752	185,370
3.88% Exchangeable Senior Debentures	0	5,736
Employee stock options and restricted share awards (in shares)	727	730
Convertible preferred shares	50	50
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total	187,529	191,886
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.90
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04	$ 0.36
Net income per common share	$ 1.24	$ 1.26
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.90
Income from discontinued operations, net	$ 1.04	$ 0.35
Net income per common share	$ 1.24	$ 1.25