Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 88,486	$ 92,208	$ 253,567	$ 297,290
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,888	149,098	270,923	233,835
Net income attributable to Vornado	103,374	241,306	524,490	531,125
Preferred share dividends	(20,369)	(20,613)	(62,439)	(56,187)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0	11,700	(1,130)	11,700
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders	83,005	232,393	460,921	486,638
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(24)	(71)	(97)	(149)
Numerator for basic income per share	82,981	232,322	460,824	486,489
Convertible preferred share dividends	0	28	54	85
Numerator for diluted income per share	$ 82,981	$ 232,350	$ 460,878	$ 486,574
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares (in shares)	186,969	185,924	186,885	185,656
Employee stock options and restricted share awards (in shares)	755	681	746	693
Convertible preferred shares (in shares)	0	50	48	50
Denominator for diluted income per share - weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	187,724	186,655	187,679	186,399
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.45	$ 1.02	$ 1.36
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.80	$ 1.45	$ 1.26
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 1.25	$ 2.47	$ 2.62
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 1.01	$ 1.36
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.80	$ 1.45	$ 1.25
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 1.24	$ 2.46	$ 2.61