Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 616,288	$ 574,411	$ 1,223,090	$ 1,136,792
Total expenses	422,897	385,143	861,985	802,283
Operating income (loss)	193,391	189,268	361,105	334,509
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(5,231)	(53,742)	(7,636)	(51,763)
Income from real estate fund investments	26,368	100,110	50,457	118,258
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	5,666	9,396	16,458	21,246
Interest and debt expense	(92,092)	(103,913)	(183,766)	(200,225)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	0	905	1,860	10,540
Income (loss) before income taxes	128,102	142,024	238,478	232,565
Income tax benefit (expense)	88,072	(3,280)	87,101	(4,131)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	216,174	138,744	325,579	228,434
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(774)	26,943	15,067	35,409
Net income	215,400	165,687	340,646	263,843
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(29,384)	(68,679)	(50,553)	(84,118)
Net income attributable to Vornado	186,016	97,008	290,093	179,725
Interest and debt expense (2)	115,073	179,520	229,748	350,472
Depreciation and amortization (2)	163,245	173,443	319,695	369,782
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	(87,653)	(574)	(88,392)	19,257
EBITDA	376,681	449,397	751,144	919,236
New York Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	414,262	375,674	813,775	736,858
Total expenses	250,298	226,840	503,058	464,574
Operating income (loss)	163,964	148,834	310,717	272,284
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	3,176	8,996	(2,487)	10,562
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	1,892	1,614	3,754	3,055
Interest and debt expense	(47,173)	(49,070)	(92,524)	(91,909)
Income (loss) before income taxes	121,859	110,374	219,460	193,992
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,095)	(1,226)	(2,038)	(2,195)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	120,764	109,148	217,422	191,797
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		5,919		11,786
Net income	120,764	115,067	217,422	203,583
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,552)	(3,108)	(4,058)	(4,513)
Net income attributable to Vornado	118,212	111,959	213,364	199,070
Interest and debt expense (2)	61,057	64,072	119,724	122,140
Depreciation and amortization (2)	95,567	74,007	189,691	161,594
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	1,152	1,291	2,154	2,323
EBITDA	275,988	251,329	524,933	485,127
Washington DC Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	134,856	134,826	268,824	270,104
Total expenses	98,661	87,352	191,658	176,924
Operating income (loss)	36,195	47,474	77,166	93,180
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(1,805)	(2,248)	(1,674)	(3,514)
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	13	42	26	78
Interest and debt expense	(17,483)	(18,660)	(35,643)	(38,007)
Income (loss) before income taxes	16,920	26,608	39,875	51,737
Income tax benefit (expense)	(466)	(115)	208	84
Income (loss) from continuing operations	16,454	26,493	40,083	51,821
Net income	16,454	26,493	40,083	51,821
Net income attributable to Vornado	16,454	26,493	40,083	51,821
Interest and debt expense (2)	20,891	22,463	42,403	45,261
Depreciation and amortization (2)	47,803	35,806	88,555	71,956
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	486	132	(2,150)	(57)
EBITDA	85,634	84,894	168,891	168,981
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	67,170	63,911	140,491	129,830
Total expenses	73,938	70,951	167,269	160,785
Operating income (loss)	(6,768)	(7,040)	(26,778)	(30,955)
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(6,602)	(60,490)	(3,475)	(58,811)
Income from real estate fund investments	26,368	100,110	50,457	118,258
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	3,761	7,740	12,678	18,113
Interest and debt expense	(27,436)	(36,183)	(55,599)	(70,309)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets		905	1,860	10,540
Income (loss) before income taxes	(10,677)	5,042	(20,857)	(13,164)
Income tax benefit (expense)	89,633	(1,939)	88,931	(2,020)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	78,956	3,103	68,074	(15,184)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(774)	21,024	15,067	23,623
Net income	78,182	24,127	83,141	8,439
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(26,832)	(65,571)	(46,495)	(79,605)
Net income attributable to Vornado	51,350	(41,444)	36,646	(71,166)
Interest and debt expense (2)	33,125	92,985	67,621	183,071
Depreciation and amortization (2)	19,875	63,630	41,449	136,232
Income tax (benefit) expense (2)	(89,291)	(1,997)	(88,396)	16,991
EBITDA	$ 15,059	$ 113,174	$ 57,320	$ 265,128