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	524,490						524,490	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	50,049	39,321							50,049
Dividends on common shares, Value	(409,332)						(409,332)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(62,439)						(62,439)
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Shares				12,000
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Value	290,536			290,536
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					234
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	19,627				9	19,618
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					66
Under employees' share option plan, Value	3,681				3	3,678	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					16
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,376				0	1,376
Contributions:
Contributions		24,328	15,687							24,328	15,687
Distribution:
Distributions		(47,268)	(126,799)							(47,268)	(126,799)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in Real Estate Fund	0
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(2)	3
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				(90)		90
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					(6)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	6,877				(12)	7,194	(305)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	160,886							160,886
Amounts reclassified related to sale of available-for-sale securities	(42,404)							(42,404)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(25,023)							(25,023)
Change in value of interest rate swap	14,265							14,265
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(43,709)					(43,709)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(5,982)							(5,982)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	(1,130)						(1,130)
Deconsolidation of partially owned entity	(165,427)								(165,427)
Other	(5,330)					(25)	(5,672)	531	(164)
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2013	7,827,834			1,277,455	7,440	7,183,660	(1,527,663)	83,327	803,615
Ending balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013				52,683	187,048
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	331,249						331,249	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	85,239	81,217							85,239
Dividends on common shares, Value	(410,724)						(410,724)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(61,099)						(61,099)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					227
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	22,668				9	22,659
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					199
Under employees' share option plan, Value	12,350				8	12,342
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					13
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,387					1,387
Contributions:
Contributions		5,297	5,000							5,297	5,000
Distribution:
Distributions		(182,964)	(643)							(182,964)	(643)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in Real Estate Fund	(33,028)	(33,028)								(33,028)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(4)	6
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				(193)	0	193
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					5
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	4,306				1	4,645	(340)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	(7,761)							(7,761)
Amounts reclassified related to sale of available-for-sale securities	0
Pro rata share of other comprehensive (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(151)							(151)
Change in value of interest rate swap	5,846							5,846
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(144,231)					(144,231)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	109							109
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0
Other	(2,675)			(6)		(297)	(2,372)	0	0
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 7,224,919			$ 1,277,026	$ 7,487	$ 7,040,538	$ (1,878,125)	$ 69,580	$ 708,413
Ending balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2014				52,679	187,735