Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	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, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013				52,683	187,285
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
Net income attributable to Vornado	179,725						179,725
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	75,554	$ 72,629							75,554
Dividends on common shares	(273,694)						(273,694)
Dividends on preferred shares	(40,734)						(40,734)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					199
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	19,771				$ 8	19,763
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					159
Under employees' share option plan, Value	9,206				$ 6	9,200	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					9
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	919				$ 0	919
Contributions:
Contributions		5,297								$ 5,297
Distribution:
Distributions	(16,824)	(132,819)	$ (301)							(132,819)	$ (301)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund investments	(33,028)								(33,028)
Conversion Of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(4)	6
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				$ (193)		193
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	3,044				$ 1	3,383	(340)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	15,003							15,003
Pro rata share of other comprehensive (loss) income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	5,877							5,877
Change in value of interest rate swap	1,065							1,065
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(227,338)					(227,338)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(1,260)							(1,260)
Other	(2,677)			$ (6)		(297)	(2,368)	(1)	(5)
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2014				52,679	187,665
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2014	7,198,354			$ 1,277,026	$ 7,484	6,949,663	(1,872,250)	92,221	744,210
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014				52,679	187,887
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
Net income attributable to Vornado	290,093						290,093
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	35,068	29,411							35,068
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)						(464,262)		(341)
Dividends on common shares	(237,160)						(237,160)
Dividends on preferred shares	(39,849)						(39,849)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					400
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	43,278				$ 16	43,262
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					195
Under employees' share option plan, Value	10,400				$ 7	12,972	(2,579)
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					7
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	701					701
Contributions:
Contributions		51,725								51,725
Distribution:
Distributions	(14,734)	$ (62,495)	$ (255)							$ (62,495)	$ (255)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund investments	0
Conversion Of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(1)	1
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				$ (16)		16
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	1,295				$ 1	1,653	(359)
Change in unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	(46,332)							(46,332)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive (loss) income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,034)							(1,034)
Change in value of interest rate swap	2,073							2,073
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	229,521					229,521
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	2,635							2,635
Other	867						955	4	(92)
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2015				52,678	188,497
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 7,305,310			$ 1,277,010	$ 7,517	$ 7,161,150	$ (1,958,546)	$ 50,613	$ 767,566