Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	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 Other
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 (loss) income attributable to Vornado	104,077						104,077
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	15,882	$ 13,539							15,882
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)						(464,262)		(341)
Dividends on common shares	(118,447)						(118,447)
Dividends on preferred shares	(19,484)						(19,484)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					210
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	23,493				$ 8	23,485
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					165
Under employees' share option plan, Value	9,100				$ 7	11,672	(2,579)
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					3
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	338				$ 0	338
Contributions:
Contributions		51,350								$ 51,350
Distributions:
Distributions	(7,280)	(52,882)	$ (125)							(52,882)	$ (125)
Conversion Of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				0	1
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				$ (12)		12
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	966				$ 1	1,324	(359)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(21,332)							(21,332)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	157							157
Reduction in value of interest rate swap	(776)							(776)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	25,349					25,349
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	1,288							1,288
Other	(85)							5	(90)
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2015				52,679	188,273
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2015	7,043,648			$ 1,277,014	$ 7,509	6,935,205	(2,006,439)	72,609	757,750
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015				52,677	188,577
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2015	7,476,078			$ 1,276,954	$ 7,521	7,132,979	(1,766,780)	46,921	778,483
Net (loss) income attributable to Vornado	(93,799)						(93,799)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	9,678	5,973							9,678
Dividends on common shares	(118,867)						(118,867)
Dividends on preferred shares	(20,364)						(20,364)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					157
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	14,482				$ 6	14,476
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					26
Under employees' share option plan, Value	2,166				$ 1	2,165	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					4
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	357					357
Distributions:
Distributions	(7,835)	$ (13,487)	$ (152)							$ (13,487)	$ (152)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	350				$ 1	535	(186)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	11,094							11,094
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	6							6
Reduction in value of interest rate swap	(4,195)							(4,195)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	36,524					36,524
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(427)							(427)
Other	112						2	0	110
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2016				52,677	188,771
Ending balance, Value at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 7,299,556			$ 1,276,954	$ 7,529	$ 7,187,036	$ (1,999,994)	$ 53,399	$ 774,632