Debt (Summary of Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)	$ 8,316,793,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable	$ 8,263,165,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
Senior unsecured notes	847,332,000us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt	1,347,159,000us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt
Revolving credit facility debt	400,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit	0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Notes And Mortgages Payable Fixed Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)	6,553,924,000	6,499,396,000
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	4.46%
Notes And Mortgages Payable Variable Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)	1,762,869,000	1,763,769,000
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	2.21%
Total Notes And Mortgages Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages payable (in US Dollars)	8,316,793,000	8,263,165,000
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	3.99%
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes	847,332,000	1,347,159,000
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	3.68%
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility debt	400,000,000	0
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	1.23%
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt And Revolving Credit Facility	$ 1,247,332,000	$ 1,347,159,000
Interest Rate, End of Period (in percentage)	3.39%

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Paragraph 22

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ 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 210.9-03.16)

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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

+ Details

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

- 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

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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

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

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (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 FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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-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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Article 5

-Subsection 19, 20, 22

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the toal amount of Unsecured Debt And Revolving Credit Facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=vno_NotesAndMortgagesPayableFixedRateMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=vno_NotesAndMortgagesPayableVariableRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=vno_SeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

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