Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 981,922	$ 859,430	$ 1,009,026
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	595,270	566,207	583,408
Net gain on extinguishment of Skyline properties debt	(487,877)	0	0
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	217,468	65,018	96,286
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(175,735)	(251,821)	(13,568)
Equity in net (income) loss of partially owned entities	(165,389)	11,882	58,131
Real estate impairment losses	161,165	256	26,518
Straight-lining of rental income	(146,787)	(153,668)	(82,800)
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	71,888	91,458	215,676
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(53,202)	(79,053)	(46,786)
Net realized and unrealized loss (gain) on real estate fund investments	40,655	(57,752)	(150,139)
Other non-cash adjustments	39,406	37,721	37,303
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	(5,074)	(65,396)	(507,192)
Reversal of allowance for deferred tax assets	0	(90,030)	0
Defeasance cost in connection with the refinancing of mortgage payable	0	0	5,589
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real estate fund investments	0	(95,010)	(3,392)
Tenant and other receivables, net	(7,459)	11,936	(8,282)
Prepaid assets	(8,023)	(14,804)	(8,786)
Other assets	(70,120)	(116,157)	(123,435)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	32,389	(33,747)	44,628
Other liabilities	(19,830)	(14,320)	3,125
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,000,667	672,150	1,135,310
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Development costs and construction in progress	(606,565)	(490,819)	(544,187)
Additions to real estate	(387,545)	(301,413)	(279,206)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	193,967	37,818	25,943
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	153,534	573,303	388,776
Investments in partially owned entities	(127,608)	(235,439)	(120,639)
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(61,464)	(478,215)	(211,354)
Net deconsolidation of 7 West 34th Street	(42,000)	0	0
Investments in loans receivable and other	(11,700)	(1,000)	(30,175)
Purchases of marketable securities	(4,379)	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	3,937	0	0
Restricted cash	585	200,229	99,464
Proceeds from sales and repayments of mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable and other	45	16,790	96,913
Net cash used in investing activities	(889,193)	(678,746)	(574,465)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	2,403,898	4,468,872	2,428,285
Repayments of borrowings	(1,894,990)	(2,936,578)	(1,312,258)
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(475,961)	(474,751)	(547,831)
Redemption of preferred shares / units	(246,250)	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(130,590)	(102,866)	(220,895)
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(80,137)	(80,578)	(81,468)
Debt issuance and other costs	(42,157)	(66,554)	(58,336)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	11,950	51,975	30,295
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options / Vornado stock options	8,269	16,779	19,245
Repurchase of shares (Class A units) related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(186)	(7,473)	(3,811)
Cash included in the spin-off of Urban Edge Properties	0	(225,000)	0
Purchase of marketable securities in connection with the defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	(198,884)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(446,154)	643,826	54,342
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(334,680)	637,230	615,187
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,835,707	1,198,477	583,290
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,501,027	1,835,707	1,198,477
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $29,584, $48,539, and $53,139	368,762	376,620	443,538
Cash payments for income taxes	9,716	8,287	11,696
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(305,679)	(167,250)	(121,673)
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	120,564	122,711	100,528
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	52,057	(55,326)	14,465
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(26,251)	192,464	(315,276)
Non-cash distribution of Real Estate Properties:
Assets	0	1,709,256	0
Liabilities	0	(1,469,659)	0
Equity	0	(239,597)	0
Transfer of interest in real estate to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	0	(145,313)	0
Class A units in connection with acquisition	0	80,000	0
Financing assumed in acquisitions	0	62,000	0
Marketable securities transferred in connection with the defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	198,884
Defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	(193,406)
Elimination of a mortgage and mezzanine loan asset and liability	0	0	59,375
Transfer of interest in real estate fund to an unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(58,564)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund	0	0	(33,028)
Beverly Connection seller financing	0	0	13,620
Skyline Properties
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition or deconsolidation of real estate properties:
Real estate, net	(189,284)	0	0
Mortgages payable, net	(690,263)	0	0
7 West 34th Street
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition or deconsolidation of real estate properties:
Real estate, net	(122,047)	0	0
Mortgages payable, net	(290,418)	0	0
Vornado Realty L.P.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	981,922	859,430	1,009,026
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	595,270	566,207	583,408
Net gain on extinguishment of Skyline properties debt	(487,877)	0	0
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	217,468	65,018	96,286
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(175,735)	(251,821)	(13,568)
Equity in net (income) loss of partially owned entities	(165,389)	11,882	58,131
Real estate impairment losses	161,165	256	26,518
Straight-lining of rental income	(146,787)	(153,668)	(82,800)
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	71,888	91,458	215,676
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(53,202)	(79,053)	(46,786)
Net realized and unrealized loss (gain) on real estate fund investments	40,655	(57,752)	(150,139)
Other non-cash adjustments	39,406	37,721	37,303
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	(5,074)	(65,396)	(507,192)
Reversal of allowance for deferred tax assets	0	(90,030)	0
Defeasance cost in connection with the refinancing of mortgage payable	0	0	5,589
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real estate fund investments	0	(95,010)	(3,392)
Tenant and other receivables, net	(7,459)	11,936	(8,282)
Prepaid assets	(8,023)	(14,804)	(8,786)
Other assets	(70,120)	(116,157)	(123,435)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	32,389	(33,747)	44,628
Other liabilities	(19,830)	(14,320)	3,125
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,000,667	672,150	1,135,310
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Development costs and construction in progress	(606,565)	(490,819)	(544,187)
Additions to real estate	(387,545)	(301,413)	(279,206)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	193,967	37,818	25,943
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	153,534	573,303	388,776
Investments in partially owned entities	(127,608)	(235,439)	(120,639)
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(61,464)	(478,215)	(211,354)
Net deconsolidation of 7 West 34th Street	(42,000)	0	0
Investments in loans receivable and other	(11,700)	(1,000)	(30,175)
Purchases of marketable securities	(4,379)	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	3,937	0	0
Restricted cash	585	200,229	99,464
Proceeds from sales and repayments of mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable and other	45	16,790	96,913
Net cash used in investing activities	(889,193)	(678,746)	(574,465)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	2,403,898	4,468,872	2,428,285
Repayments of borrowings	(1,894,990)	(2,936,578)	(1,312,258)
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(475,961)	(474,751)	(547,831)
Redemption of preferred shares / units	(246,250)	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(130,590)	(102,866)	(220,895)
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(80,137)	(80,578)	(81,468)
Debt issuance and other costs	(42,157)	(66,554)	(58,336)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	11,950	51,975	30,295
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options / Vornado stock options	8,269	16,779	19,245
Repurchase of shares (Class A units) related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(186)	(7,473)	(3,811)
Cash included in the spin-off of Urban Edge Properties	0	(225,000)	0
Purchase of marketable securities in connection with the defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	(198,884)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(446,154)	643,826	54,342
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(334,680)	637,230	615,187
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,835,707	1,198,477	583,290
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,501,027	1,835,707	1,198,477
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $29,584, $48,539, and $53,139	368,762	376,620	443,538
Cash payments for income taxes	9,716	8,287	11,696
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(305,679)	(167,250)	(121,673)
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	120,564	122,711	100,528
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	52,057	(55,326)	14,465
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(26,251)	192,464	(315,276)
Non-cash distribution of Real Estate Properties:
Assets	0	1,709,256	0
Liabilities	0	(1,469,659)	0
Equity	0	(239,597)	0
Transfer of interest in real estate to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	0	(145,313)	0
Class A units in connection with acquisition	0	80,000	0
Financing assumed in acquisitions	0	62,000	0
Marketable securities transferred in connection with the defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	198,884
Defeasance of mortgage payable	0	0	(193,406)
Elimination of a mortgage and mezzanine loan asset and liability	0	0	59,375
Transfer of interest in real estate fund to an unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(58,564)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in real estate fund	0	0	(33,028)
Beverly Connection seller financing	0	0	13,620
Vornado Realty L.P. | Skyline Properties
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition or deconsolidation of real estate properties:
Real estate, net	(189,284)	0	0
Mortgages payable, net	(690,263)	0	0
Vornado Realty L.P. | 7 West 34th Street
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition or deconsolidation of real estate properties:
Real estate, net	(122,047)	0	0
Mortgages payable, net	(290,418)	0	0
Acquisitions
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	29,639	80,269	606,816
Acquisitions | Vornado Realty L.P.
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	29,639	80,269	606,816
Dispositions
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	(29,639)	(213,621)	(630,352)
Dispositions | Vornado Realty L.P.
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	$ (29,639)	$ (213,621)	$ (630,352)