Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Real Estate Fund [Member]	All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]	Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real Estate Fund [Member]	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 7,904,144			$ 1,240,278	$ 7,440	$ 7,195,438	$ (1,573,275)	$ (18,946)	$ 1,053,209
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012				51,185	186,735
Net income attributable to Vornado	262,922						262,922	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	11,286	9,540							11,286
Dividends on common shares, Value	(136,342)						(136,342)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(21,702)						(21,702)
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Shares				12,000
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Value	290,710			290,710
Redemption of Series F and Series H preferred shares, Shares				(10,500)
Redemption of Series F and Series H preferred shares, Value	(253,269)			(253,269)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					162
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	13,404				5	13,399
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					27
Under employees' share option plan, Value	1,176				1	1,175	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					5
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	433				0	433
Contributions:
Contributions		10,251	14,316							10,251	14,316
Distribution:
Distributions		(43,145)	(120,051)							(43,145)	(120,051)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					6
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	2,208				1	2,512	(305)
Change in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	148,789							148,789
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(3,647)							(3,647)
Change in value of interest rate swap	2,523							2,523
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(44,998)					(44,998)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(8,299)							(8,299)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	(9,230)						(9,230)
Other	(869)						(1,364)	533	(38)
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2013	8,020,610			1,277,719	7,447	7,167,959	(1,479,296)	120,953	925,828
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2013				52,685	186,935
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2013	7,594,744			1,277,225	7,469	7,143,840	(1,734,839)	71,537	829,512
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013				52,683	187,285
Net income attributable to Vornado	82,717						82,717	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	11,579	10,849							11,579
Dividends on common shares, Value	(136,761)						(136,761)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(20,368)						(20,368)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					55
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	5,156				2	5,154
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					60
Under employees' share option plan, Value	3,230				2	3,228
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					5
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	446					446
Distribution:
Distributions		(1,950)	(142)							(1,950)	(142)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	1,779				1	2,118	(340)
Change in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	13,125							13,125
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(8,286)							(8,286)
Change in value of interest rate swap	1,610							1,610
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(136,937)					(136,937)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(361)							(361)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0
Other	(254)					(238)	(18)	1	1
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 7,409,327			$ 1,277,225	$ 7,474	$ 7,017,611	$ (1,809,609)	$ 77,626	$ 839,000
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2014				52,683	187,412