SEC Schedule III Rollforward of Real Estate Assets and Accumulated Depreciation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation Of Carrying Amount Of Real Estate Investments Roll Forward
Real estate, Balance at beginning period	$ 17,418,946	$ 17,365,533	$ 15,444,754
Gross real estate balance at year end	18,992,635	18,512,055	17,574,781
Less: Assets sold and written-off	147,243us-gaap_RealEstateCostOfRealEstateSold	1,093,109us-gaap_RealEstateCostOfRealEstateSold	209,248us-gaap_RealEstateCostOfRealEstateSold
Real estate, Balance at end of period	18,845,392	17,418,946	17,365,533
Reconciliation Of Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation Roll Forward
Accumulated Depreciation, Balance at beginning of period	3,296,717	2,966,067	2,742,244
Additions charged to operating expenses	461,689	423,844	427,189
Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation	3,758,406	3,389,911	3,169,433
Less: Accumulated depreciation on assets sold and written-off	129,271	93,194	203,366
Accumulated Depreciation, Balance at end of period	3,629,135	3,296,717	2,966,067
Land [Member]
Reconciliation Of Carrying Amount Of Real Estate Investments Roll Forward
Additions during the period: Land	225,536	131,646	514,950
Building Improvements [Member]
Reconciliation Of Carrying Amount Of Real Estate Investments Roll Forward
Additions during the period: Buildings & improvements	$ 1,348,153	$ 1,014,876	$ 1,615,077

Amount of accumulated depreciation pertaining to real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 970

-SubTopic 360

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.FN4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 28

-Article 12

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule III

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease to accumulated depreciation for real estate investments sold for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciationRealEstateSold
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of real estate investments sold for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 28

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule III

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 970

-SubTopic 360

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in real estate investments related to improvements for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateImprovements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of real estate investment property which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in real estate investments from acquisitions other than through foreclosure for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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- Definition

Amount of depreciation expense of real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

+ References

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- Definition

The subtotal of accumulated depreciation balance excluding accumulated depreciation on assets sold and write-off of accumulated depreciation on fully depreciated assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
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- Definition

This element represents the gross total of real estate asset balance before assets sold and write-off of fully depreciated assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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