Real Estate Fund Investments (Income from the Fund and the Co-Investment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Details Of Income From Real Estate Funds
(Loss) income from real estate fund investments	$ (6,308)	$ 1,077	$ (1,649)	$ 28,750
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(4,022)	(3,658)	(18,436)	(26,361)
Fee and Other Income	33,292	30,643	98,212	88,034
Real estate fund investments
Details Of Income From Real Estate Funds
Net investment income	6,028	5,841	16,888	12,237
Net realized gains on exited investments	35,620	0	35,861	14,676
Previously recorded unrealized gains on exited investment	(36,736)	0	(25,538)	(14,254)
Net unrealized (loss) gain on held investments	(11,220)	(4,764)	(28,860)	16,091
(Loss) income from real estate fund investments	(6,308)	1,077	(1,649)	28,750
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(1,486)	(270)	(9,684)	(15,088)
(Loss) income from real estate fund investments attributable to the Operating Partnership	(7,794)	807	(11,333)	13,662
Less loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	485	(49)	706	(843)
(Loss) income from real estate fund investments attributable to Vornado	(7,309)	758	(10,627)	12,819
Fee and Other Income	$ 744	$ 804	$ 3,125	$ 2,499

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_Incomelossfromrealestatefundinvestments
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: