Dispositions (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Unclassified Balance Sheet Disclosures Abstract
Real Estate, Net	$ 27,199		$ 2,028,677
Other Assets	8,143		209,797
Assets related to discontinued operations	35,342		2,238,474
Mortgages Payable	0		1,288,535
Other liabilities (primarily deferred revenue in 2014)	11,354		222,827
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	11,354		1,511,362
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	19,958	106,563
Total expenses	13,373	76,025
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale of real estate	6,585	30,538
Net gain on sale of lease position in Geary Street, CA	21,376us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfLoansAndLeases	0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfLoansAndLeases
Net gains on sale of real estate	10,867	0
Transaction related costs	(22,645)vno_TransactionCostsSpinOff	(499)vno_TransactionCostsSpinOff
Impairment losses	(256)	(20,842)
Pretax income from discontinued operations	15,927	9,197
Income tax expense	(86)	(731)
Income from discontinued operations	15,841	8,466
Cash flows related to discontinued operations:
Cash flows from operating activities, discontinued operations	(36,672)	15,535
Cash flows from investing activities, discontinued operations	$ 310,069	$ (30,397)

Amount classified as assets attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of investing activities of discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of operating activities of discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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Overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, before income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the following (before income tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount classified as accrued liabilities attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Amount classified as other assets attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Amount classified as other liabilities attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of difference between the carrying amount and the sales price of real estate properties sold as part of discontinued operations.

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No definition available.

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The gains (losses) included in earnings that represent the difference between the sale price and the carrying value of loans and leases that were sold during the reporting period. This element refers to the gain (loss) and not to the cash proceeds of the sales. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax before extraordinary items allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount classified as liabilities attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Amount classified as real estate attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

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Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Total Expenses

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This element represents the operating income from the properties that were sold or the income from discontinued operations before gains on sale of real estate

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This element represents the cost related to transactions costs.

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