Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Guarantees and master leases		$ 427,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit		38,096,000
Commitment To Fund Additional Capital To Partially Owned Entities		70,000,000
220 Central Park South [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Constuction commitment		873,800,000
NBCR Losses [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance limit per occurrence		2,000,000,000
Insurance Limit Aggregate Value		$ 2,000,000,000
Federal government deductible, percentage of balance of a covered loss		85.00%
NBCR Losses [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Federal government deductible, percentage of balance of a covered loss	84.00%
Earthquake California Properties [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance limit per occurrence		$ 180,000,000
Insurance Limit Aggregate Value		$ 180,000,000
Vornado deductible, percentage of property value		5.00%
All Risk And Rental Value [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance limit per occurrence		$ 2,000,000,000
General Liability [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance limit per occurrence		300,000,000
Insurance Limit Aggregate Value		300,000,000
Terrorism Acts [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance limit per occurrence		4,000,000,000
Insurance Limit Aggregate Value		$ 4,000,000,000
Insurance Coverage End Date		December 2020
PPIC [Member] | NBCR Losses [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance deductible		$ 3,200,000
Insurance Deductible Percentage Of Balance Of Covered Loss		15.00%
PPIC [Member] | NBCR Losses [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance deductible	$ 2,400,000
Insurance Deductible Percentage Of Balance Of Covered Loss	16.00%