Interest and Debt Expense (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Interest Expense Debt [Abstract]
Interest expense	$ 95,328us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurred	$ 105,512us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurred
Amortization of deferred financing costs	7,456us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	4,422us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Capitalized interest and debt expenses	(11,110)vno_CapitalizedInterestAndDebtExpenses	(13,622)vno_CapitalizedInterestAndDebtExpenses
Interest and Debt Expense, Total	$ 91,674us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense	$ 96,312us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to issue debt and obtain financing associated with the related debt instruments. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 8

-Article 9

+ Details

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

- Definition

Interest and debt related expenses associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total interest costs incurred during the period and either capitalized or charged against earnings.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents Capitalized interest and debt expenses amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_CapitalizedInterestAndDebtExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration