Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 96,725	$ 82,959	$ 273,015	$ 243,857
Income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	54,799	20,415	58,234	280,633
Net income attributable to Vornado	151,524	103,374	331,249	524,490
Preferred share dividends	(20,365)	(20,369)	(61,099)	(62,439)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0	0	0	(1,130)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	131,159	83,005	270,150	460,921
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(19)	(24)	(70)	(97)
Numerator for basic income per share	131,140	82,981	270,080	460,824
Convertible preferred share dividends	23	0	49	54
Numerator for diluted income per share	$ 131,163	$ 82,981	$ 270,129	$ 460,878
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares	187,671	186,969	187,503	186,885
Employee stock options and restricted share awards (in shares)	1,099	755	1,046	746
Convertible preferred shares	42	0	43	48
Denominator for diluted income per share - weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	188,812	187,724	188,592	187,679
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.33	$ 1.13	$ 0.97
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.11	$ 0.31	$ 1.50
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.44	$ 1.44	$ 2.47
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.33	$ 1.12	$ 0.96
Income from discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.11	$ 0.31	$ 1.50
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.44	$ 1.43	$ 2.46