Shareholders' Equity/Partners' Capital (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Nov. 24, 2020	Jan. 15, 2020	Dec. 18, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
Common Stock Number Of Shares Par Value And Other Disclosures
Common shares / Class A units of beneficial interest: outstanding shares				191,354,679	190,985,677
Dividends / Distributions paid on common shares / Class A units				$ 827,319	$ 503,785	$ 479,348
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares				$ 291,182	$ 0	0
Preferred shares of beneficial interest: authorized shares				110,000,000	110,000,000
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in usd per share)				$ 1.9531
Preferred dividends				$ 64,271	$ 50,131	55,115
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)				51,739	$ 50,131	50,636
5.25% Series N
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures
Cumulative redeemable preferred units issuance, shares	12,000,000
Preferred stock dividend rate	5.25%
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares				$ 291,182
Redeemable Preferred Stock | 5.25% Series N
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures
Preferred stock dividend rate	5.25%			5.25%
Preferred shares of beneficial interest: authorized shares	12,000,000			12,000,000
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in usd per share)	$ 25.00			$ 25.00
Class A
Common Stock Number Of Shares Par Value And Other Disclosures
Outstanding Partnership Units held by Third Parties				13,583,607	13,298,956
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in usd per share)				$ 1.9531
Vornado Realty L.P.
Common Stock Number Of Shares Par Value And Other Disclosures
Dividends / Distributions paid on common shares / Class A units				$ 827,319	$ 503,785	479,348
Payments of special dividend		$ 372,380
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares				291,182	0	0
Preferred dividends				64,271	50,131	55,115
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders (see Note 12 for dividends per share amounts)				$ 51,739	$ 50,131	$ 50,636
Vornado Realty L.P. | Class A
Common Stock Number Of Shares Par Value And Other Disclosures
Common shares / Class A units of beneficial interest: outstanding shares				191,354,679
Dividends / Distributions paid on common shares / Class A units				$ 454,857
Dividends per common share (usd per share)		$ 1.95		$ 0.53			$ 0.53	$ 0.66	$ 0.66
Payments of special dividend		$ 398,292
Outstanding Partnership Units held by Third Parties				13,583,607	13,298,956
Vornado Realty Trust
Common Stock Number Of Shares Par Value And Other Disclosures
Common shares / Class A units of beneficial interest: outstanding shares				191,354,679
Dividends / Distributions paid on common shares / Class A units				$ 454,857
Dividends per common share (usd per share)			$ 1.95	$ 0.53			$ 0.53	$ 0.66	$ 0.66
Payments of special dividend			$ 372,380