Income Per Share/Income Per Class A Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests / in consolidated subsidiaries	$ 335,445	$ 203,122	$ 2,942,267	$ 336,570
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7)	57	(80)	357
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	335,438	203,179	2,942,187	336,927
Preferred share dividends / unit distributions	(12,532)	(12,534)	(37,598)	(38,103)
Preferred share / unit issuance costs	0	0	0	(14,486)
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders / Class A unitholders	322,906	190,645	2,904,589	284,338
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(33)	(17)	(291)	(33)
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share / per Class A unit	322,873	190,628	2,904,298	284,305
Convertible preferred share dividends / unit distributions	14	15	43	47
Earnings allocated to Out-Performance Plan units	0	0	9	127
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share	$ 322,887	$ 190,643	$ 2,904,350	$ 284,479
Denominator:
Denominator for basic income per share - weighted average shares (in shares)	190,814	190,245	190,762	190,176
Vornado employee stock options and restricted share / unit awards (in shares)	176	1,045	227	972
Convertible preferred shares/units	34	37	35	38
Out-Performance Plan units	0	0	3	106
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per share - weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	191,024	191,327	191,027	191,292
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	$ 1.69	$ 1.00	$ 15.22	$ 1.50
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	1.69	1.00	15.22	1.50
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE – DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per share)	1.69	1.00	15.20	1.49
Net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.69	$ 1.00	$ 15.20	$ 1.49
Vornado Realty L.P.
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests / in consolidated subsidiaries	$ 358,083	$ 215,789	$ 3,139,626	$ 355,538
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8)	61	(85)	381
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	358,075	215,850	3,139,541	355,919
Preferred share dividends / unit distributions	(12,574)	(12,582)	(37,722)	(38,248)
Preferred share / unit issuance costs	0	0	0	(14,486)
NET INCOME attributable to common shareholders / Class A unitholders	345,501	203,268	3,101,819	303,185
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(2,449)	(997)	(14,807)	(2,259)
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share / per Class A unit	343,052	202,271	3,087,012	300,926
Convertible preferred share dividends / unit distributions	14	15	43	47
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per Class A unit	$ 343,066	$ 202,286	$ 3,087,055	$ 300,973
Denominator:
Denominator for basic income (loss) per Class A unit – weighted average units (in shares)	203,009	202,103	202,903	202,033
Vornado employee stock options and restricted share / unit awards (in shares)	507	1,454	478	1,329
Convertible preferred shares/units	34	37	35	38
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per Class A unit - weighted average units and assumed conversions	203,550	203,594	203,416	203,400
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT – BASIC:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.69	$ 1.00	$ 15.21	$ 1.49
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	1.69	1.00	15.21	1.49
INCOME PER CLASS A UNIT – DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations, net (in dollars per unit)	1.69	0.99	15.18	1.48
Net income per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.69	$ 0.99	$ 15.18	$ 1.48