Real Estate Fund Investments (Income from the Fund and the Co-Investment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Details Of Income From Real Estate Funds
Income from real estate fund investments	$ (23,602)	$ 74,081	$ 163,034
Less income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(21,351)	(55,765)	(96,561)
Fee And Other Income	141,807	164,705	155,206
Real estate fund investments
Details Of Income From Real Estate Funds
Net investment income	17,053	16,329	12,895
Net realized gains on exited investments	14,761	26,036	126,653
Previously recorded unrealized gains on exited investments	(14,254)	(23,279)	(50,316)
Net unrealized gains on held investments	(41,162)	54,995	73,802
Income from real estate fund investments	(23,602)	74,081	163,034
Less income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,560	(40,117)	(92,728)
Income from real estate fund investments attributable to the Operating Partnership	(21,042)	33,964	70,306
Less income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	1,270	(2,011)	(4,047)
Income from real estate fund investments attributable to Vornado	(19,772)	31,953	66,259
Fee And Other Income	$ 3,831	$ 2,939	$ 2,562

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.

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of net income (loss) recognized from investments in real estate partnerships and variable interest entities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLossFromRealEstateInvestmentPartnership
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-16(Column G))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574960-122915

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling shareholder, unit holder, partner, or other equity holder of a joint venture.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.19)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling partner in an operating partnership.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of investments, not including unrealized gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, held at each balance sheet date and included in earnings for the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_DetailsOfIncomeFromRealEstateFundsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue, comprised of base and incentive revenue derived from the management of joint ventures, managing third-party properties, or another entity's operations, and other real estate revenue not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_FeeAndOtherIncome
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income (loss) from the Real Estate Fund before allocation to noncontrolling interests

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_IncomeFromRealEstateFund
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents income from the real estate fund net of amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_IncomeFromRealEstateFundAttributableToParentCompany
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents previously recorded unrealized gains on exited investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_PreviouslyRecordedUnrealizedGainsOnExitedInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: