Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net realized gain (loss) on investments sold during the period, not including gains (losses) on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, which, for cash flow reporting, is a component of proceeds from investing activities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of all notes and loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument Maturity Date (String)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateString
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Commitment Fund Term, in years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_EquityCommitmentFundTerm
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of excess fair value of investments over it's cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_InvestmentOwnedUnrecognizedUnrealizedAppreciationValue
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investment Period Fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_InvestmentPeriodFund
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The term of the extension available, in years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_LengthOfExtensionAvailable
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Investments Held By Fund during the year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_NumberOfInvestmentsHeldByFund
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of partners

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_NumberOfLimitedPartners
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the real estate assets related to the fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_RealEstateFundNondepreciableRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unfunded Commitments Of the Fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_UnfundedCommitmentsOfFund
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=vno_VornadoRealtyTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=vno_CrownePlazaTimeSquareHotelMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=vno_SantaMonicaOffice520BroadwayMember
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Vornado Capital Partners Real Estate Fund (the "Fund") (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	35 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 Investments	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 20, 2015	Mar. 25, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)	$ 554,426,000				$ 513,973,000
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)	8,316,793,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable				8,263,165,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
Real Estate Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)	554,426,000
Net realized gain on sale of investment	24,705,000	0
Number Of Limited Partners			1
Term of the Fund, years	8 years
Investment period for commitments of the Fund, years	3 years
Number Of Investments Held By Fund	6
Excess of fair value over cost	169,832,000
Unfunded Commitments Of Fund	102,324,000
Vornado Realty Trust [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Unfunded Commitments Of Fund	25,581,000
Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage			33.00%		11.00%
Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel [Member] \| Real Estate Fund Joint Venture [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage			57.00%
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)			480,000,000
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)			310,000,000
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis			LIBOR
Spread Over LIBOR (in percentage)			2.80%
Debt Instrument Maturity			December 2018
Length Of Extension Available			1 year
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity			95,000,000
Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel [Member] \| Vornado Realty Trust [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity			39,000,000
520 Broadway [Member] \| Real Estate Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Net realized gain on sale of investment				24,705,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate				$ 91,650,000