Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests / Redeemable Partnership Units (Activity of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Rollforward
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance	$ 984,937	$ 1,278,446
Net income	25,672	10,910	$ 53,654
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(836)	643
Distributions	(31,828)	(33,229)
Other, net	20,749	35,408
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance	783,562	984,937	$ 1,278,446
Class A
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Rollforward
Redemption of Class A units for Vornado common shares, at redemption value	(17,068)	(38,747)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value (including $224,069 attributable to the spin-off of JBGS)	$ (198,064)	(268,494)
JBGS \| Class A
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Rollforward
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value (including $224,069 attributable to the spin-off of JBGS)		$ (224,069)

Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests).

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.

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As of the reporting date, the aggregate carrying amount of all noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. This item includes noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) regardless of the type of equity interest (common, preferred, other) including all potential organizational (legal) forms of the investee entity.

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Adjustments to reflect redeemable Class A Operating Partnership units

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Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

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Other Net Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

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