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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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

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-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 the income taxes on gain on sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_IncomeTaxOnGainOnSale
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

ale 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

- Definition

This element represents the seller financing rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Mortgage loan provided by the seller of the property to the buyer as seller financing

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the square footage of real estate property sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_SquareFootageOfRealEstatePropertySold
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Discontinued Operations (Narratives) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended							0 Months Ended											12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Canadian Trade Shows [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Three non-core strip shopping centers and two DC office buildings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] Properties	Dec. 31, 2012 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] Properties	Jan. 24, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Green Acres Mall [Member] Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member]	Apr. 15, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Plant [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Apr. 15, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Gallery At Market Street [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Sep. 23, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Tampa Florida [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member]	Sep. 23, 2013 Retail Properties Segment [Member] Tampa Florida [Member] Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] Vornado Realty Trust [Member]	Nov. 07, 2012 Washington DC Segment [Member] Reston Executive [Member] Properties sqft	Jul. 26, 2012 Washington DC Segment [Member] 409 Third Street SW [Member] sqft	Jan. 06, 2012 Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] West Mart Center 350 [Member] sqft	Jun. 22, 2012 Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] LA Mart [Member] sqft	Jul. 26, 2012 Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] Washington Design Center and Canadian Trade Shows [Member]	Jul. 26, 2012 Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] Washington Design Center [Member] sqft	Dec. 31, 2012 Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] Boston Design Center [Member] sqft	Dec. 17, 2013 New York Segment [Member] New York Office 866 UN Plaza [Member] sqft
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate								$ 500,000	$ 203,000	$ 60,000	$ 45,000	$ 33,750	$ 126,250			$ 53,000				$ 200,000
Net proceeds from the sale of real estate								185,000	98,000	58,000		20,810								146,439
Net gains on sale of real estate	414,502	245,799	51,623		51,623	7,851	22,266	202,275	32,169	33,058		8,728	36,746	126,621	54,911				5,252	127,512
Sale Of Ownership Interest Percent												75.00%
Number Of Real Estate Properties Sold						12	12						3
Cash proceeds from the sale of real estate					168,000	82,300	157,000							200,000	228,000	18,000	103,000		72,400
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property Sold													494,000	409,000	1,200,000	784,000		393,000	554,000	360,000
Seller financing rate																6.00%
Seller Financing Related To Property Sales	0	35,000	0													35,000
Income tax on gain on sale				$ 11,448