Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 660,618	$ 718,713
Total expenses	494,984	468,419
Operating income	165,634	250,294
Income from partially owned entities	1,979	22,525
Income from real estate fund	18,148	16,564
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	11,893	(49,075)
Interest and debt expense	(109,442)	(120,346)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets other than depreciable real estate	9,635	(36,724)
Income before income taxes	97,847	83,238
Income tax expense	(1,582)	(1,073)
Income from continuing operations	96,265	82,165
Income from discontinued operations	1,891	206,762
Net income	98,156	288,927
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15,439)	(26,005)
Net income attributable to Vornado	82,717	262,922
Interest and debt expense (2)	170,952	188,780
Depreciation and amortization (2)	196,339	194,185
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	19,831	60,759
EBITDA	469,839	706,646
New York Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	371,282	364,801
Total expenses	241,999	242,927
Operating income	129,283	121,874
Income from partially owned entities	1,566	5,605
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	1,475	1,165
Interest and debt expense	(42,839)	(40,431)
Income before income taxes	89,485	88,213
Income tax expense	(969)	(272)
Income from continuing operations	88,516	87,941
Income from discontinued operations		2,728
Net income	88,516	90,669
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,405)	(1,581)
Net income attributable to Vornado	87,111	89,088
Interest and debt expense (2)	58,068	49,689
Depreciation and amortization (2)	87,587	78,413
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	1,032	347
EBITDA	233,798	217,537
Washington DC Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	135,278	134,731
Total expenses	89,572	85,197
Operating income	45,706	49,534
Income from partially owned entities	(1,266)	(2,093)
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	36	76
Interest and debt expense	(19,347)	(28,250)
Income before income taxes	25,129	19,267
Income tax expense	199	(378)
Income from continuing operations	25,328	18,889
Income from discontinued operations		0
Net income	25,328	18,889
Net income attributable to Vornado	25,328	18,889
Interest and debt expense (2)	22,798	31,753
Depreciation and amortization (2)	36,150	35,148
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	(189)	454
EBITDA	84,087	86,244
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	88,805	142,212
Total expenses	82,231	48,580
Operating income	6,574	93,632
Income from partially owned entities	538	901
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	9	51
Interest and debt expense	(9,217)	(10,286)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets other than depreciable real estate	0
Income before income taxes	(2,096)	84,298
Income tax expense	(731)	0
Income from continuing operations	(2,827)	84,298
Income from discontinued operations	1,714	205,382
Net income	(1,113)	289,680
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	(96)
Net income attributable to Vornado	(1,130)	289,584
Interest and debt expense (2)	10,351	14,223
Depreciation and amortization (2)	25,328	18,519
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	731	0
EBITDA	35,280	322,326
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Other Non-Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	1,847	1,759
Income before income taxes	1,847	1,759
Income from continuing operations	1,847	1,759
Net income	1,847	1,759
Net income attributable to Vornado	1,847	1,759
Interest and debt expense (2)	38,549	43,182
Depreciation and amortization (2)	26,924	37,674
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	18,077	59,346
EBITDA	85,397	141,961
Other Segment [Member] | Other Non-Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	65,253	76,969
Total expenses	81,182	91,715
Operating income	(15,929)	(14,746)
Income from partially owned entities	(706)	16,353
Income from real estate fund	18,148	16,564
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	10,373	(50,367)
Interest and debt expense	(38,039)	(41,379)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets other than depreciable real estate	9,635	(36,724)
Income before income taxes	(16,518)	(110,299)
Income tax expense	(81)	(423)
Income from continuing operations	(16,599)	(110,722)
Income from discontinued operations	177	(1,348)
Net income	(16,422)	(112,070)
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,017)	(24,328)
Net income attributable to Vornado	(30,439)	(136,398)
Interest and debt expense (2)	41,186	49,933
Depreciation and amortization (2)	20,350	24,431
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	180	612
EBITDA	$ 31,277	$ (61,422)