Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

The net realized gain (loss) on investments sold during the period, not including gains (losses) on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, which, for cash flow reporting, is a component of proceeds from investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of all notes and loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Maturity Date (String)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Commitment Fund Term, in years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expiration date of the fund investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of excess fair value of investments over it's cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investment Period Fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The term of the extension available, in years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Investments Held By Fund during the year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of partners

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the real estate assets related to the fund

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of investments sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unfunded Commitments Of the Fund

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
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Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=vno_RetailGeorgetownParkMember
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Real Estate Fund Investments (Narratives) (Details)					12 Months Ended			35 Months Ended
Real Estate Fund Investments (Narratives) (Details)	Mar. 25, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 20, 2015 USD ($) LimitedPartners	Aug. 21, 2014 USD ($) ft²	Jun. 26, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Investments	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Investments	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2015 USD ($)
Investment Holdings
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)					$ 462,132,000	$ 574,761,000
Mortgages payable, net					$ 9,278,263,000	$ 9,513,713,000
Number Of Investments Held By Fund \| Investments					6	6
Unfunded Commitments Of Fund					$ 34,422,000
Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage		33.00%					11.00%
Vornado Realty Trust Excluding Real Estate Fund \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage					24.70%
Real estate fund investments
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage					25.00%
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)					$ 462,132,000	$ 574,761,000
Net realized gain on sale of investment					$ 14,761,000	$ 26,036,000	$ 126,653,000
Term of the Fund, years					8 years
Investment period for commitments of the Fund, years					3 years
Investment fund expiration date					July 2013
Excess of fair value over cost					$ 153,197,000
Unfunded Commitments Of Fund					$ 117,907,000
Real estate fund investments \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Number Of Limited Partners \| LimitedPartners		1
Real estate fund investments \| Santa Monica, CA Office 520 Broadway
Investment Holdings
Net realized gain on sale of investment								$ 23,768,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate	$ 91,650,000
Vornado Realty Trust \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity		$ 39,000,000
Joint Venture \| Vornado Realty Trust Excluding Real Estate Fund \| One Park Avenue
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage				55.00%
Joint Venture \| Real estate fund investments \| One Park Avenue
Investment Holdings
Sale Of Investments Percentage				64.70%
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)				$ 560,000,000
Net realized gain on sale of investment				$ 75,529,000
Joint Venture \| Real estate fund investments \| Georgetown Park
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage			50.00%
Net realized gain on sale of investment			$ 51,124,000
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property \| ft²			305,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate			$ 272,500,000
Co Venture \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage					57.10%
Co Venture \| Real estate fund investments \| One Park Avenue
Investment Holdings
Sale Of Investments Percentage				45.00%
Real Estate Fund Joint Venture \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel
Investment Holdings
Equity method ownership percentage		57.10%
Aggregate fair value of Real Estate Fund investments (in US Dollars)		$ 480,000,000
Mortgages payable, net		$ 310,000,000
Debt Instrument Maturity		December 2018
Length Of Extension Available		1 year
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity		$ 95,000,000
Real Estate Fund Joint Venture \| Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel \| LIBOR
Investment Holdings
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis		LIBOR
Spread Over LIBOR (in percentage)		2.80%