Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate, at cost:
Land	$ 4,170,656	$ 4,791,049
Buildings and improvements	12,387,153	12,445,970
Development costs and construction in progress	1,077,703	920,349
Leasehold improvements and equipment	129,425	130,030
Total	17,764,937	18,287,398
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,334,920)	(3,078,667)
Real estate, net	14,430,017	15,208,731
Cash and cash equivalents	872,323	960,319
Restricted cash	320,979	183,256
Marketable securities	210,554	398,188
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $22,105 and $37,674	131,479	195,718
Real Estate Fund investments	635,990	600,786
Mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable	176,388	225,359
Receivable arising from the straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $5,106 and $3,165	804,526	759,742
Deferred leasing and financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $261,548 and $223,670	400,970	407,126
Identified intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $297,391 and $346,613	275,250	406,309
Assets related to discontinued operations	27,413	634,139
Other assets	441,089	381,079
Assets	20,275,321	22,065,049
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY
Mortgages payable	8,566,582	8,644,200
Senior unsecured notes	1,350,769	1,358,008
Revolving credit facility debt	83,982	1,170,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	442,623	484,746
Deferred revenue	472,805	596,067
Deferred compensation plan	111,752	105,200
Deferred tax liabilities	15,420	15,305
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	0	442,293
Other liabilities	452,456	400,934
Total liabilities	11,496,389	13,216,753
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests:
Class A units - 11,302,612 and 11,215,682 units outstanding	950,098	898,152
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred units - 1 and 1,800,001 units outstanding	1,000	46,000
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests	951,098	944,152
Vornado shareholders' equity:
Preferred shares of beneficial interest: no par value per share; authorized 110,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 52,682,807 and 51,184,609 shares	1,277,455	1,240,278
Common shares of beneficial interest: $.04 par value per share; authorized 250,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 187,048,110 and 186,734,711 shares	7,440	7,440
Additional capital	7,183,660	7,195,438
Earnings less than distributions	(1,527,663)	(1,573,275)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	83,327	(18,946)
Total Vornado shareholders' equity	7,024,219	6,850,935
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	803,615	1,053,209
Total equity	7,827,834	7,904,144
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	20,275,321	22,065,049
Toys R Us [Member]
Real estate, at cost:
Investments in partially owned entities	378,615	478,041
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Real estate, at cost:
Investments in partially owned entities	$ 1,169,728	$ 1,226,256