Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAdditionalDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 24

-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents gross proceeds from the sale of real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_GrossProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents net proceeds from the sale of real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_NetProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of real estate properties sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sale Of Ownership Interest Percent in real estate property sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_SaleOfOwnershipInterestPercent
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Discontinued Operations (Narratives) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Apr. 15, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Plant [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Jan. 24, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Green Acres Mall [Member] Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member]	Apr. 15, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Gallery At Market Street [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Sep. 20, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Tampa Florida [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Tampa Florida [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] Vornado Realty Trust [Member]	Sep. 20, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Tampa Florida [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] Vornado Realty Trust [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Retail And Other Segment Properties [Member] Properties
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate					$ 203,000	$ 500,000	$ 60,000	$ 45,000	$ 33,750
Gain Loss On Disposal Of Discontinued Operations	18,996	131,088	286,990	203,801	32,169	202,275	33,058			8,728	7,851
Net proceeds from the sale of real estate					98,000	185,000	58,000			20,810
Cash proceeds from the sale of real estate											$ 82,300
Sale Of Ownership Interest Percent									75.00%
Number Of Real Estate Properties Sold											12