Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

Reference 2: 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

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

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of right to a contingent consideration asset.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7008-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationAsset1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain on the sale of property that does not qualify for gain recognition as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 40

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.U.Q2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955272&loc=d3e221323-122791

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Ratio of the net operating income produced by an asset and its capital cost (original prices paid to buy the asset), used as an input to measure fair value.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 2: 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

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

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net cash inflow from (a) sales of loans held-for-investment, (b) sales of leases held-for-investment, and (c) both. Includes proceeds from securitizations of loans.

+ 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 (a)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfLoansAndLeasesHeldForInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

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

- Definition

Expected Additional Consideration Percent in case of increased valuation of the proprty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_AdditionalConsiderationReceivablePercent
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This amount represents Cash Considerations Transferred During Spin Off.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the number of real estate properties sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	vno_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=vno_DisposalGroupDisposedOfByMeansOtherThanSaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsSpinoffMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vno_PennsylaveniaRealEstateInvestmentTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=vno_RetailSegmentStripShoppingCentersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=vno_RetailSegmentRegionalMallsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=us-gaap_WarehouseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=vno_RetailSpringfieldMallMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=vno_RetailCaSanFrancisco3700GearyBlvdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Discontinued Operations (Narratives) (Details) - Segment [Domain] - Real Estate Properties [Domain] ft² in Thousands					3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) ft²	Mar. 13, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 15, 2015 USD ($) Properties	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) ft² Properties	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number Of Real Estate Properties Sold \| Properties						5
Cash Considerations Transferred During Spin Off (in US Dollars)									$ 225,000,000	$ 0
Gain on sale of interest in leases					$ 0		$ 0		21,376,000	0
Cash Proceeds from sale of real estate						$ 10,731,000
Net gains on sale of real estate					$ 0	3,675,000	$ 0		10,867,000	0
Impairment Losses									$ 256,000	$ 20,842,000
Spin off to Urban Edge [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash Considerations Transferred During Spin Off (in US Dollars)				$ 225,000,000
Pennsylavenia Real Estate Investment Trust [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Deferred Gain on Sale of Property		$ 631,000				631,000
Retail Segment Strip Shopping Centers [Member] \| Spin off to Urban Edge [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number Of Real Estate Properties \| Properties				79
Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member] \| Spin off to Urban Edge [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number Of Real Estate Properties \| Properties				3
Warehouse [Member] \| Spin off to Urban Edge [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number Of Real Estate Properties Sold \| Properties				1
Retail Springfield Mall [Member] \| Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Net gains on sale of real estate		$ 7,823,000				$ 7,192,000
Impairment Losses								$ 20,000,000
Retail Springfield Mall [Member] \| Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member] \| Pennsylavenia Real Estate Investment Trust [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property \| ft²		1,350				1,350
Cash Proceeds from sale of real estate		$ 340,000,000
Retail Springfield Mall [Member] \| Retail Segment Regional Malls [Member] \| Scenario Forecast [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Additional Consideration Receivable Percent	50.00%
Additional Consideration Theshold, Value	$ 465,000,000
Capitalization rate	5.50%
Geary Street, CA [Member]
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Proceeds from Sale of interest in leases			$ 34,189,000
Gain on sale of interest in leases			$ 21,376,000