Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities	$ 206,323us-gaap_MarketableSecurities	$ 191,917us-gaap_MarketableSecurities
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	513,973	667,710
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities	206,323	191,917
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	513,973	667,710
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets	117,284	116,515
Total assets	837,580	976,142
Mandatorily redeemable instruments (included in other liabilities)	55,097	55,097
Interest rate swap (included in other liabilities)	25,797	31,882
Total liabilities	80,894	86,979
Other Partners Ownership Interest In Real Estate Fund (in percentage)	75.00%	75.00%
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Real Estate, Net at Fair Value	4,848	354,341
Total Assets, Nonrecurring		437,565
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] \| Toys R Us [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments in Partially Owned Entities at Fair Value		83,224
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities	206,323	191,917
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	0	0
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets	53,969	47,733
Total assets	260,292	239,650
Mandatorily redeemable instruments (included in other liabilities)	55,097	55,097
Interest rate swap (included in other liabilities)	0	0
Total liabilities	55,097	55,097
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Real Estate, Net at Fair Value	0	0
Total Assets, Nonrecurring		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] \| Toys R Us [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments in Partially Owned Entities at Fair Value		0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities	0	0
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	0	0
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Mandatorily redeemable instruments (included in other liabilities)	0	0
Interest rate swap (included in other liabilities)	25,797	31,882
Total liabilities	25,797	31,882
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Real Estate, Net at Fair Value	0	0
Total Assets, Nonrecurring		0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Member \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] \| Toys R Us [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments in Partially Owned Entities at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities	0	0
Real Estate Fund Nondepreciable Real Estate	513,973	667,710
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets	63,315	68,782
Total assets	577,288	736,492
Mandatorily redeemable instruments (included in other liabilities)	0	0
Interest rate swap (included in other liabilities)	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Real Estate, Net at Fair Value	4,848	354,341
Total Assets, Nonrecurring		437,565
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] \| Toys R Us [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments in Partially Owned Entities at Fair Value		$ 83,224

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets held under deferred compensation agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

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- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

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- Definition

Fair value portion of investments in an entity not consolidated. Includes, but is not limited to, investments in an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership, an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group, an entity which the company has significant influence, but does not have control and subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity or cost method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258

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- Definition

Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

+ References

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- Definition

Fair value portion of shares that an entity is required to redeem for cash or other assets at a fixed or determinable date or upon the occurrence of an event.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 480

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6939902&loc=d3e21216-110875

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- Definition

Total debt and equity financial instruments including: (1) securities held-to-maturity, (2) trading securities, and (3) securities available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563

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- Definition

Other Partner's Ownership Interest In Real Estate Fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
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- Definition

This element represents the real estate assets related to the fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

The component of Real Estate that has been measured at Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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