The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of capital contributed by other unit holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187171-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherOwnershipInterestsValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

As of the reporting date, the carrying amount of 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. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) may be in the form of common shares (regardless of class), limited partnership units (regardless of class), non-preferential membership interests, or any other form of common equity regardless of investee entity legal form.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (16)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (12)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCommonCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value of shares that would be issued, determined under the conditions specified in the contract if the settlement were to occur at the reporting date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109262807&loc=d3e22047-110879

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharesSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionSettlementTermsFairValueOfShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Contributed Capital

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestContributedCapital
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDecreasefromDistributionstoNoncontrollingInterestHolders
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Net Contributed Capital

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vno_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestNetContributedCapital
Namespace Prefix:	vno_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=vno_CumulativeRedeemablePreferredUnitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_PartnershipInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=us-gaap_CapitalUnitClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vno_FarleyOfficeandRetailBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=vno_FarleyOfficeandRetailBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=srt_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=vno_RelatedCompaniesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Unit
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Fair value of Series G-1 through G-4 convertible preferred units and Series D-13 cumulative redeemable preferred units	$ 49,947		$ 49,947			$ 50,561
Partnership Interest
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redemption value of redeemable Class A units	594,934		594,934
Distributions	7,332	$ 8,852	25,330	$ 25,788
Partnership Interest \| Class A Unit
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redemption value of redeemable Class A units	$ 460,831		$ 460,831			$ 884,380
Farley Office and Retail \| Joint Venture
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Equity method ownership percentage	95.00%		95.00%
Capital contributions					$ 92,400
Net contributed capital	$ 142,000		$ 142,000
Contributed capital	185,000		$ 185,000
Distributions	$ 43,000
Farley Office and Retail \| Affiliated Entity \| Related Companies
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	5.00%		5.00%