Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 422,603	$ 264,128	$ 981,922
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	472,785	529,826	595,270
Net gains on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(246,031)	(501)	(175,735)
Net realized and unrealized losses on real estate fund investments	84,706	15,267	40,655
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	78,831	82,095	214,800
Purchase price fair value adjustment	(44,060)	0	0
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(38,573)	(46,790)	(53,202)
Decrease in fair value of marketable securities	26,453	0	0
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	20,290	91,606	71,888
Change in valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities	12,835	34,800	0
Real estate impairment losses	12,000	0	161,165
Equity in net income of partially owned entities	(9,149)	(15,635)	(165,389)
Straight-lining of rents	(7,605)	(45,792)	(146,787)
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	0	(3,489)	(5,074)
Net gain on extinguishment of Skyline properties debt	0	0	(487,877)
Other non-cash adjustments	39,221	56,480	39,406
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real estate fund investments	(68,950)	0	0
Tenant and other receivables, net	(14,532)	1,183	(4,271)
Prepaid assets	151,533	(12,292)	(7,893)
Other assets	(84,222)	(79,199)	(76,357)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,869	3,760	13,278
Other liabilities	(11,363)	(15,305)	(719)
Net cash provided by operating activities	802,641	860,142	995,080
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(574,812)	(30,607)	(91,103)
Development costs and construction in progress	(418,186)	(355,852)	(606,565)
Additions to real estate	(234,602)	(271,308)	(387,545)
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	219,731	9,543	183,173
Proceeds from sale of condominium units at 220 Central Park South	214,776	0	0
Investments in loans receivable	(105,000)	0	(11,700)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	100,178	366,155	196,635
Moynihan Train Hall expenditures	(74,609)	0	0
Investments in partially owned entities	(37,131)	(40,537)	(127,608)
Proceeds from repayments of loans receivable	25,757	659	45
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	4,101	0	3,937
Net consolidation of Farley Office and Retail Building	2,075	0	0
Proceeds from the repayment of JBG SMITH Properties loan receivable	0	115,630	0
Net deconsolidation of 7 West 34th Street	0	0	(48,000)
Purchases of marketable securities	0	0	(4,379)
Net cash used in investing activities	(877,722)	(206,317)	(893,110)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings	(685,265)	(631,681)	(1,894,990)
Proceeds from borrowings	526,766	1,055,872	2,403,898
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(479,348)	(496,490)	(475,961)
Redemption of preferred shares / units	(470,000)	0	(246,250)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(76,149)	(109,697)	(130,590)
Moynihan Train Hall reimbursement from Empire State Development	74,609	0	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	61,062	1,044	11,950
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(55,115)	(64,516)	(80,137)
Repurchase of shares (Class A units) related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(12,969)	(418)	(186)
Debt issuance costs	(12,908)	(12,325)	(42,157)
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options (Vornado stock options) and other	7,309	29,712	8,269
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs	(818)	(3,217)	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash included in the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties ($275,000 plus The Bartlett financing proceeds less transaction costs and other mortgage items)	0	(416,237)	0
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares / units	0	309,609	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,122,826)	(338,344)	(446,154)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,197,907)	315,481	(344,184)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,914,812	1,599,331	1,943,515
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	716,905	1,914,812	1,599,331
Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,817,655	1,501,027	1,835,707
Restricted cash at beginning of period	97,157	95,032	99,943
Restricted cash included in discontinued operations at beginning of period	0	3,272	7,865
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,914,812	1,599,331	1,943,515
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	570,916	1,817,655	1,501,027
Restricted cash at end of period	145,989	97,157	95,032
Restricted cash included in discontinued operations at end of period	0	0	3,272
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	716,905	1,914,812	1,599,331
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $67,402, $43,071 and $29,584	311,835	338,983	368,762
Cash payments for income taxes	62,225	6,727	9,716
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Reclassification of condominium units from development costs and construction in progress to 220 Central Park South condominium units ready for sale	233,179	0	0
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	198,064	268,494	(26,251)
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	88,115	102,976	120,564
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(86,064)	(58,810)	(305,679)
Reclassification of Series G and Series I cumulative redeemable preferred shares / units to liabilities upon call for redemption	0	455,514	0
(Reduction) increase in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	0	(20,951)	52,057
Non-cash distribution to JBG SMITH Properties:
Assets	0	3,432,738	0
Liabilities	0	(1,414,186)	0
Equity	0	(2,018,552)	0
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the deconsolidation of investments that were previously consolidated:
Real estate, net	0	0	(122,047)
Mortgage payable, net	0	0	(290,418)
JBGS
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash included in the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties ($275,000 plus The Bartlett financing proceeds less transaction costs and other mortgage items)		(275,000)
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Loan receivable established upon the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties	0	115,630	0
Vornado Realty L.P.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	422,603	264,128	981,922
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	472,785	529,826	595,270
Net gains on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(246,031)	(501)	(175,735)
Net realized and unrealized losses on real estate fund investments	84,706	15,267	40,655
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	78,831	82,095	214,800
Purchase price fair value adjustment	(44,060)	0	0
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(38,573)	(46,790)	(53,202)
Decrease in fair value of marketable securities	26,453	0	0
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	20,290	91,606	71,888
Change in valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities	12,835	34,800	0
Real estate impairment losses	12,000	0	161,165
Equity in net income of partially owned entities	(9,149)	(15,635)	(165,389)
Straight-lining of rents	(7,605)	(45,792)	(146,787)
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	0	(3,489)	(5,074)
Net gain on extinguishment of Skyline properties debt	0	0	(487,877)
Other non-cash adjustments	39,221	56,480	39,406
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real estate fund investments	(68,950)	0	0
Tenant and other receivables, net	(14,532)	1,183	(4,271)
Prepaid assets	151,533	(12,292)	(7,893)
Other assets	(84,222)	(79,199)	(76,357)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,869	3,760	13,278
Other liabilities	(11,363)	(15,305)	(719)
Net cash provided by operating activities	802,641	860,142	995,080
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(574,812)	(30,607)	(91,103)
Development costs and construction in progress	(418,186)	(355,852)	(606,565)
Additions to real estate	(234,602)	(271,308)	(387,545)
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	219,731	9,543	183,173
Proceeds from sale of condominium units at 220 Central Park South	214,776	0	0
Investments in loans receivable	(105,000)	0	(11,700)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	100,178	366,155	196,635
Moynihan Train Hall expenditures	(74,609)	0	0
Investments in partially owned entities	(37,131)	(40,537)	(127,608)
Proceeds from repayments of loans receivable	25,757	659	45
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	4,101	0	3,937
Net consolidation of Farley Office and Retail Building	2,075	0	0
Proceeds from the repayment of JBG SMITH Properties loan receivable	0	115,630	0
Net deconsolidation of 7 West 34th Street	0	0	(48,000)
Purchases of marketable securities	0	0	(4,379)
Net cash used in investing activities	(877,722)	(206,317)	(893,110)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings	(685,265)	(631,681)	(1,894,990)
Proceeds from borrowings	526,766	1,055,872	2,403,898
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(479,348)	(496,490)	(475,961)
Redemption of preferred shares / units	(470,000)	0	(246,250)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(76,149)	(109,697)	(130,590)
Moynihan Train Hall reimbursement from Empire State Development	74,609	0	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	61,062	1,044	11,950
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(55,115)	(64,516)	(80,137)
Repurchase of shares (Class A units) related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(12,969)	(418)	(186)
Debt issuance costs	(12,908)	(12,325)	(42,157)
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options (Vornado stock options) and other	7,309	29,712	8,269
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs	(818)	(3,217)	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash included in the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties ($275,000 plus The Bartlett financing proceeds less transaction costs and other mortgage items)	0	(416,237)	0
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares / units	0	309,609	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,122,826)	(338,344)	(446,154)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,197,907)	315,481	(344,184)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,914,812	1,599,331	1,943,515
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	716,905	1,914,812	1,599,331
Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,817,655	1,501,027	1,835,707
Restricted cash at beginning of period	97,157	95,032	99,943
Restricted cash included in discontinued operations at beginning of period	0	3,272	7,865
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,914,812	1,599,331	1,943,515
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	570,916	1,817,655	1,501,027
Restricted cash at end of period	145,989	97,157	95,032
Restricted cash included in discontinued operations at end of period	0	0	3,272
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	716,905	1,914,812	1,599,331
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $67,402, $43,071 and $29,584	311,835	338,983	368,762
Cash payments for income taxes	62,225	6,727	9,716
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Reclassification of condominium units from development costs and construction in progress to 220 Central Park South condominium units ready for sale	233,179	0	0
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	198,064	268,494	(26,251)
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	88,115	102,976	120,564
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(86,064)	(58,810)	(305,679)
Reclassification of Series G and Series I cumulative redeemable preferred shares / units to liabilities upon call for redemption	0	455,514	0
(Reduction) increase in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	0	(20,951)	52,057
Non-cash distribution to JBG SMITH Properties:
Assets	0	3,432,738	0
Liabilities	0	(1,414,186)	0
Equity	0	(2,018,552)	0
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the deconsolidation of investments that were previously consolidated:
Real estate, net	0	0	(122,047)
Mortgage payable, net	0	0	(290,418)
Vornado Realty L.P. | JBGS
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash included in the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties ($275,000 plus The Bartlett financing proceeds less transaction costs and other mortgage items)		(275,000)
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Loan receivable established upon the spin-off of JBG SMITH Properties	0	115,630	0
Farley Office and Retail Building
Increase in assets and liabilities resulting from the consolidation of the Farley Office and Retail Building and Moynihan Train Hall:
Real estate, net	401,708	0	0
Mortgage payable, net	249,459	0	0
Farley Office and Retail Building | Vornado Realty L.P.
Increase in assets and liabilities resulting from the consolidation of the Farley Office and Retail Building and Moynihan Train Hall:
Real estate, net	401,708	0	0
Mortgage payable, net	249,459	0	0
Moynihan Train Hall
Increase in assets and liabilities resulting from the consolidation of the Farley Office and Retail Building and Moynihan Train Hall:
Real estate, net	346,926	0	0
Moynihan Train Hall obligation	346,926	0	0
Moynihan Train Hall | Vornado Realty L.P.
Increase in assets and liabilities resulting from the consolidation of the Farley Office and Retail Building and Moynihan Train Hall:
Real estate, net	346,926	0	0
Moynihan Train Hall obligation	346,926	0	0
Skyline Properties
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition of Skyline properties:
Real estate, net	0	0	(189,284)
Mortgage payable, net	0	0	(690,263)
Skyline Properties | Vornado Realty L.P.
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from the disposition of Skyline properties:
Real estate, net	0	0	(189,284)
Mortgage payable, net	$ 0	$ 0	$ (690,263)