Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 94,980	$ 92,569	$ 175,916	$ 160,555
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,028	65,625	3,809	260,561
Net income attributable to Vornado	97,008	158,194	179,725	421,116
Preferred share dividends	(20,366)	(20,368)	(40,734)	(42,070)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0	8,100	0	(1,130)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	76,642	145,926	138,991	377,916
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(21)	(31)	(51)	(86)
Numerator for basic income per share	76,621	145,895	138,940	377,830
Convertible preferred share dividends	0	27	0	55
Numerator for diluted income per share	$ 76,621	$ 145,922	$ 138,940	$ 377,885
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares	187,527	186,931	187,418	186,842
Employee stock options and restricted share awards (in shares)	1,090	742	1,013	737
Convertible preferred shares	0	47	0	48
Denominator for diluted income per share - weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	188,617	187,720	188,431	187,627
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.43	$ 0.72	$ 0.63
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.35	$ 0.02	$ 1.39
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.78	$ 0.74	$ 2.02
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.43	$ 0.72	$ 0.62
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.35	$ 0.02	$ 1.39
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.78	$ 0.74	$ 2.01