Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Real estate fund investments	All other except real estate fund investments	Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries All other except real estate fund investments
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 7,594,744			$ 1,277,225	$ 7,469	$ 7,143,840	$ (1,734,839)	$ 71,537	$ 829,512
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013				52,683	187,285
Net income attributable to Vornado	82,717						82,717
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	11,579	10,849							11,579
Dividends on common shares, Value	(136,761)						(136,761)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(20,368)						(20,368)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					55
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	5,156				2	5,154
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					60
Under employees' share option plan, Value	3,230				2	3,228	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					5
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	446				0	446
Distribution:
Distributions	(8,383)	(1,950)	(142)							(1,950)	(142)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	1,779				1	2,118	(340)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	13,125							13,125
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(8,286)							(8,286)
Change in value of interest rate swap	1,610							1,610
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(136,937)					(136,937)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(361)							(361)
Other	(254)					(238)	(18)	1	1
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2014	7,409,327			1,277,225	7,474	7,017,611	(1,809,609)	77,626	839,000
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2014				52,683	187,412
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2014	7,489,382			1,277,026	7,493	6,873,025	(1,505,385)	93,267	743,956
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014				52,679	187,887
Net income attributable to Vornado	104,077						104,077
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	15,882	13,539							15,882
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)						(464,262)		(341)
Dividends on common shares, Value	(118,447)						(118,447)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(19,484)						(19,484)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					210
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	23,493				8	23,485
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					165
Under employees' share option plan, Value	9,100				7	11,672	(2,579)
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					3
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	338					338
Contributions:
Contributions		51,350								51,350
Distribution:
Distributions	(7,280)	(52,882)	(125)							(52,882)	(125)
Conversion Of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares					1
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				(12)		12
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	966				1	1,324	(359)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	(21,332)							(21,332)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	157							157
Change in value of interest rate swap	(776)							(776)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	25,349					25,349
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	1,288							1,288
Other	(85)							5	(90)
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 7,043,648			$ 1,277,014	$ 7,509	$ 6,935,205	$ (2,006,439)	$ 72,609	$ 757,750
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2015				52,679	188,273