Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	Preferred Shares	Preferred Shares Series J Preferred Stock	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	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 income attributable to Vornado	509,327							509,327
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	38,370	$ 29,453								38,370
Distribution of Urban Edge Properties	(464,603)							(464,262)		(341)
Dividends on common shares	(355,945)							(355,945)
Dividends on preferred shares	(60,213)							(60,213)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares						437
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	46,693					$ 17	46,676
Under employees' share option plan, Shares						198
Under employees' share option plan, Value	11,626					$ 8	14,197	(2,579)
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares						11
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,068						1,068
Contributions:
Contributions		51,725									$ 51,725
Distributions:
Distributions	(22,502)	(70,875)	$ (397)								(70,875)	$ (397)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(1)		2
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				$ (41)			41
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares						6
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	1,688					$ 1	2,046	(359)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(53,396)								(53,396)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,148)								(1,148)
Increase (Reduction) in value of interest rate swap	1,783								1,783
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	295,713						295,713
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	3,082								3,082
Other	621							700	5	(84)
Ending balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2015				52,678		188,541
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2015	7,444,501			$ 1,276,985		$ 7,519	7,232,766	(1,878,716)	43,593	762,354
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 income attributable to Vornado	239,607							239,607
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	26,361	15,088								26,361
Dividends on common shares	(356,863)							(356,863)
Dividends on preferred shares	(59,774)							(59,774)
Redemption of Series J preferred shares, Shares					(9,850)
Redemption of Series J preferred shares, Value	(246,250)				$ (238,842)			(7,408)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares						293
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	28,126					$ 12	28,114
Under employees' share option plan, Shares						106
Under employees' share option plan, Value	5,940					$ 4	5,936
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares						12
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,080						1,080
Contributions:
Contributions			19,699									19,699
Distributions:
Distributions	(23,582)	$ (59,843)	$ (11,631)								$ (59,843)	$ (11,631)
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares						7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	1,185					$ 1	1,370	(186)
Increase (reduction) in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	42,798								42,798
Pro rata share of other comprehensive loss of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,537)								(1,537)
Increase (Reduction) in value of interest rate swap	(3,482)								(3,482)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(30,260)						(30,260)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(2,326)								(2,326)
Other	78			$ (1)		$ (1)	1	(7)		86
Other, Shares						(1)
Ending balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2016				42,827		188,994
Ending balance, Value at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 7,068,986			$ 1,038,111		$ 7,537	$ 7,139,220	$ (1,951,411)	$ 82,374	$ 753,155