Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Other	Vornado Realty L.P.	Vornado Realty L.P. Real estate fund investments	Vornado Realty L.P. Other	Vornado Realty L.P. Preferred Shares	Vornado Realty L.P. Class A Units Owned by Vornado	Vornado Realty L.P. Earnings Less Than Distributions	Vornado Realty L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Other
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of accounting change	$ 14,519						$ 122,893	$ (108,374)				$ 14,519					$ 122,893	$ (108,374)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				36,800	189,984										36,800	189,984
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2017	5,007,701			$ 891,988	$ 7,577	$ 7,492,658	(4,183,253)	128,682	$ 670,049			5,007,701			$ 891,988	$ 7,500,235	(4,183,253)	128,682	$ 670,049
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	336,927						336,927					355,919					355,919
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(18,992)											(18,992)					(18,992)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(31,137)	$ (34,338)							(31,137)			(31,137)							(31,137)
Dividends on common shares	(359,456)						(359,456)
Distributions to Vornado												(359,456)					(359,456)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)	(38,103)						(38,103)					(38,103)					(38,103)
Preferred shares / units issuance costs	(15,149)			$ (663)			(14,486)					(15,149)			$ (663)		(14,486)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					201											201
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	14,089				$ 8	14,081						14,089				$ 14,089
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, shares					77											77
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	4,226				$ 3	4,223						4,226				$ 4,226
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					15											15
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	1,036				$ 1	1,035						1,036				$ 1,036
Contributions:
Contributions		46,942	$ 14,577							$ 46,942	$ 14,577		$ 46,942	$ 14,577						$ 46,942	$ 14,577
Distributions:
Distributions	(23,867)	(12,665)	(28,173)							(12,665)	(28,173)		(12,665)	(28,173)						(12,665)	(28,173)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, shares				(1)	2										(1)	2
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value	0			$ (31)		31						0			$ (31)	$ 31
Deferred compensation shares and options, shares					7											7
Deferred compensation shares and options	750					871	(121)					750				$ 871	(121)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	989							989				989						989
Increase/reduction in value of interest rate swaps	13,789							13,789				13,789						13,789
Unearned Out-Performance Plan awards acceleration	9,046					9,046						9,046				9,046
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	57,970					57,970						57,970				57,970
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(913)							(913)				(913)						(913)
Other, value	544					548	(3)		(1)			544				$ 548	(3)		(1)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2018				36,799	190,286										36,799	190,286
Ending balance, value at Sep. 30, 2018	5,037,509			$ 891,294	$ 7,589	7,580,463	(4,135,602)	34,173	659,592			5,037,509			$ 891,294	$ 7,588,052	(4,135,602)	34,173	659,592
Beginning balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018				36,800	190,238										36,800	190,238
Beginning balance, value at Jun. 30, 2018	4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,587	7,555,993	(4,206,381)	33,351	661,712			4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,563,580	(4,206,381)	33,351	661,712
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	203,179						203,179					215,850					215,850
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(12,671)											(12,671)					(12,671)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	3,312	558							3,312			3,312							3,312
Dividends on common shares	(119,862)						(119,862)
Distributions to Vornado												(119,862)					(119,862)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)	(12,534)						(12,534)					(12,534)					(12,534)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					25											25
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	1,843				$ 1	1,842						1,843				$ 1,843
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, shares					16											16
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	440				$ 0	440						440				$ 440
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					5											5
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	351				$ 1	350						351				$ 351
Contributions:
Contributions		1,595	366							1,595	366		1,595	366						1,595	366
Distributions:
Distributions	(7,976)	(2,419)	(4,972)							(2,419)	(4,972)		(2,419)	(4,972)						(2,419)	(4,972)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, shares				(1)	2										(1)	2
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value	0			$ (31)		31						0			$ (31)	$ 31
Deferred compensation shares and options	286					286						286				286
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	253							253				253						253
Increase/reduction in value of interest rate swaps	623							623				623						623
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	21,520					21,520						21,520				21,520
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(54)							(54)				(54)						(54)
Other, value	(5)					1	(4)		(2)			(5)				$ 1	(4)		(2)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2018				36,799	190,286										36,799	190,286
Ending balance, value at Sep. 30, 2018	5,037,509			$ 891,294	$ 7,589	7,580,463	(4,135,602)	34,173	659,592			5,037,509			$ 891,294	$ 7,588,052	(4,135,602)	34,173	659,592
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018				36,800	190,535										36,800	190,535
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	5,107,883			$ 891,294	$ 7,600	7,725,857	(4,167,184)	7,664	642,652			5,107,883			$ 891,294	$ 7,733,457	(4,167,184)	7,664	642,652
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	2,942,187						2,942,187					3,139,541					3,139,541
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(197,354)											(197,354)					(197,354)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	34,045	8,427							34,045			34,045							34,045
Dividends on common shares	(377,750)						(377,750)
Distributions to Vornado												(377,750)					(377,750)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)	(37,598)						(37,598)					(37,598)					(37,598)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					123											123
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	8,128				$ 5	8,123						8,128				$ 8,128
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, shares					165											165
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	(7,347)				$ 7	1,338	(8,692)					(7,347)				$ 1,345	(8,692)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					16											16
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	1,058				$ 1	1,057						1,058				$ 1,058
Contributions:
Contributions		3,384	5,839							3,384	5,839		3,384	5,839						3,384	5,839
Distributions:
Distributions	(25,788)	(6)	(39,290)							(6)	(39,290)		(6)	(39,290)						(6)	(39,290)
Preferred unit issuance, shares															(2)	3
Preferred unit issuance, value												0			$ (38)	$ 38
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, shares				(2)	3
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value	0			$ (38)		38
Deferred compensation shares and options, shares					8											8
Deferred compensation shares and options	829					829						829				$ 829
Amount reclassified related to a nonconsolidated subsidiary	(2,311)							(2,311)				(2,311)						(2,311)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(949)							(949)				(949)						(949)
Increase/reduction in value of interest rate swaps	(55,497)							(55,497)				(55,497)						(55,497)
Unearned Out-Performance Plan awards acceleration	11,720					11,720						11,720				11,720
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	123,635					123,635						123,635				123,635
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	3,732							3,732				3,732						3,732
Deconsolidation of partially owned entity	(11,441)								(11,441)			(11,441)							(11,441)
Other, shares				(1)											(1)
Other, value	5						2	2	1			5			$ 0	$ 0	2	2	1
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019				36,797	190,850										36,797	190,850
Ending balance, value at Sep. 30, 2019	7,710,256			$ 891,256	$ 7,613	7,872,597	(1,649,035)	(47,359)	635,184			7,710,256			$ 891,256	$ 7,880,210	(1,649,035)	(47,359)	635,184
Beginning balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2019				36,797	190,813										36,797	190,813
Beginning balance, value at Jun. 30, 2019	7,496,144			$ 891,256	$ 7,611	7,845,748	(1,845,995)	(38,066)	635,590			7,496,144			$ 891,256	$ 7,853,359	(1,845,995)	(38,066)	635,590
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	335,438						335,438					358,075					358,075
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(22,637)											(22,637)					(22,637)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	5,774	735							5,774			5,774							5,774
Dividends on common shares	(125,947)						(125,947)
Distributions to Vornado												(125,947)					(125,947)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)	(12,532)						(12,532)					(12,532)					(12,532)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					31											31
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	1,999				$ 1	1,998						1,999				$ 1,999
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					6											6
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	357				$ 1	356						357				$ 357
Contributions:
Contributions			908								908			908							908
Distributions:
Distributions	(8,852)	$ (6)	$ (7,086)							$ (6)	$ (7,086)		$ (6)	$ (7,086)						$ (6)	$ (7,086)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, shares															0	0
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value												0			$ 0	$ 0
Deferred compensation shares and options, shares																0
Deferred compensation shares and options	266					266						266				$ 266
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	11							11				11						11
Increase/reduction in value of interest rate swaps	(9,953)							(9,953)				(9,953)						(9,953)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	24,228					24,228						24,228				$ 24,228
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	650							650				650						650
Deconsolidation of partially owned entity												0							0
Other, shares																0
Other, value	5					1	1	(1)	4			5				$ 1	1	(1)	4
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019				36,797	190,850										36,797	190,850
Ending balance, value at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 7,710,256			$ 891,256	$ 7,613	$ 7,872,597	$ (1,649,035)	$ (47,359)	$ 635,184			$ 7,710,256			$ 891,256	$ 7,880,210	$ (1,649,035)	$ (47,359)	$ 635,184