Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Properties	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 sqft Properties	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	$ 498,644	$ 521,431	$ 997,745	$ 1,032,339
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	21,344	7,047	43,643	19,703
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	12,411	16,427	25,986	32,772
Total rentals	532,399	544,905	1,067,374	1,084,814
Tenant expense reimbursements	78,833	77,902	157,934	164,507
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	56,304	32,369	111,363	73,068
Tenant cleaning fees	16,982	15,409	32,492	30,832
Management and leasing fees	4,546	7,376	9,300	11,887
Lease termination fees	479	6,499	890	7,675
Other	11,048	11,578	23,662	24,654
Total revenues	700,591	696,038	1,403,015	1,397,437
Operating expenses	251,970	257,228	515,339	528,642
Depreciation and amortization	132,529	125,802	267,983	251,598
General and administrative	46,834	49,795	102,405	108,243
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	53,935	29,940	106,696	68,218
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs	2,559	1,897	3,244	20,167
Total expenses	487,827	464,662	995,667	976,868
Operating income	212,764	231,376	407,348	420,569
Income from partially owned entities	(6,627)	3,170	129,504	131,993
Income from Real Estate Fund (of which $12,306 and $12,102 in each three-month period, respectively, and $20,239 and $12,028 in each six-month period, respectively, are attributable to noncontrolling interests)	20,301	19,058	32,063	20,138
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	(49,172)	7,998	(33,507)	125,097
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(128,427)	(135,361)	(262,655)	(268,296)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	4,856	0	4,856	6,677
Income loss before income taxes	53,695	126,241	277,609	436,178
Income tax expense	(7,479)	(5,641)	(14,304)	(11,589)
Income from continuing operations	46,216	120,600	263,305	424,589
Income from discontinued operations	12,012	10,369	75,187	152,201
Net income	58,228	130,969	338,492	576,790
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(14,721)	(13,657)	(24,318)	(15,007)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions	(5,210)	(8,731)	(24,355)	(40,539)
Net income attributable to Vornado	38,297	108,581	289,819	521,244
Interest and debt expense (2)	190,942	202,956	384,024	401,804
Depreciation and amortization (2)	184,028	182,496	375,201	368,344
Income tax expense	(5,214)	(17,343)	46,226	49,485
EBITDA	408,053	476,690	1,095,270	1,340,877
Real Estate Properties Abstract
Square Footage Of Real Estate Property Reclassed			1,000,000
Number Of Real Estate Properties Reclassed	21		21
Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	12,563	26,016	32,223	41,895
New York Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	245,948	246,218	479,884	480,092
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	17,065	6,093	34,194	16,191
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	7,623	11,671	15,318	23,340
Total rentals	270,636	263,982	529,396	519,623
Tenant expense reimbursements	36,985	37,891	73,697	76,796
Tenant cleaning fees	23,911	22,300	46,558	44,342
Management and leasing fees	1,113	1,574	2,221	2,538
Lease termination fees	233	5,571	256	5,636
Other	5,455	6,345	11,802	12,003
Total revenues	338,333	337,663	663,930	660,938
Operating expenses	143,190	139,264	288,862	282,639
Depreciation and amortization	56,665	54,534	110,424	109,346
General and administrative	6,654	6,423	15,241	13,957
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs				15,000
Total expenses	206,509	200,221	414,527	420,942
Operating income	131,824	137,442	249,403	239,996
Income from partially owned entities	6,851	5,408	11,036	12,117
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	1,057	1,050	2,109	2,122
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(36,407)	(38,709)	(72,548)	(75,293)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets			0
Income loss before income taxes	103,325	105,191	190,000	178,942
Income tax expense	(1,064)	(440)	(1,665)	(959)
Income from continuing operations	102,261	104,751	188,335	177,983
Income from discontinued operations	(32)	110	(640)	233
Net income	102,229	104,861	187,695	178,216
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(2,998)	(2,325)	(5,174)	(4,596)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions			0
Net income attributable to Vornado	99,231	102,536	182,521	173,620
Interest and debt expense (2)	46,413	45,268	93,471	85,557
Depreciation and amortization (2)	63,664	59,363	125,575	116,072
Income tax expense	1,113	443	1,806	910
EBITDA	210,421	207,610	403,373	376,159
New York Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	6,851	5,408	11,036	12,117
Washington DC Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	120,532	137,430	245,772	272,075
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	1,261	(698)	3,127	(696)
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	508	512	1,031	978
Total rentals	122,301	137,244	249,930	272,357
Tenant expense reimbursements	10,958	8,724	21,122	17,685
Management and leasing fees	2,384	4,074	5,167	6,959
Lease termination fees	128	900	128	2,011
Other	4,971	5,128	10,562	10,281
Total revenues	140,742	156,070	286,909	309,293
Operating expenses	48,500	48,163	95,662	95,384
Depreciation and amortization	35,994	33,472	79,517	66,562
General and administrative	6,233	6,462	13,186	12,999
Total expenses	90,727	88,097	188,365	174,945
Operating income	50,015	67,973	98,544	134,348
Income from partially owned entities	(519)	(767)	(2,389)	(4,682)
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	29	48	73	80
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(29,313)	(30,729)	(59,724)	(59,655)
Income loss before income taxes	20,212	36,525	36,504	70,091
Income tax expense	(852)	(504)	(1,302)	(1,174)
Income from continuing operations	19,360	36,021	35,202	68,917
Income from discontinued operations	3,713	2,490	5,943	51,439
Net income	23,073	38,511	41,145	120,356
Net income attributable to Vornado	23,073	38,511	41,145	120,356
Interest and debt expense (2)	32,549	34,093	66,206	66,314
Depreciation and amortization (2)	39,656	38,306	87,916	80,205
Income tax expense	1,034	607	1,557	1,455
EBITDA	96,312	111,517	196,824	268,330
Washington DC Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(519)	(767)	(2,389)	(4,682)
Retail Properties Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	75,718	76,137	151,347	151,863
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	2,970	1,486	5,245	3,219
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	2,791	3,135	6,780	6,206
Total rentals	81,479	80,758	163,372	161,288
Tenant expense reimbursements	28,314	28,391	57,738	61,103
Management and leasing fees	1,068	1,548	1,904	2,313
Lease termination fees	1	28	1	28
Other	388	450	739	950
Total revenues	111,250	111,175	223,754	225,682
Operating expenses	41,527	44,275	85,033	91,714
Depreciation and amortization	21,415	19,905	42,025	40,243
General and administrative	6,367	6,746	12,700	13,958
Total expenses	69,309	70,926	139,758	145,915
Operating income	41,941	40,249	83,996	79,767
Income from partially owned entities	294	635	698	646
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	6	(8)	20
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(18,963)	(19,487)	(38,171)	(38,875)
Income loss before income taxes	23,278	21,389	46,543	41,538
Income tax expense				(5)
Income from continuing operations	23,278	21,389	46,543	41,533
Income from discontinued operations	10,744	4,593	15,395	12,890
Net income	34,022	25,982	61,938	54,423
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	97	(69)	211	86
Net income attributable to Vornado	34,119	25,913	62,149	54,509
Interest and debt expense (2)	20,102	20,796	40,540	41,466
Depreciation and amortization (2)	22,131	21,802	44,406	44,177
Income tax expense	0	0	0	5
EBITDA	76,352	68,511	147,095	140,157
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	294	635	698	646
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	34,015	39,295	76,062	82,954
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	82	(553)	751	(760)
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	0
Total rentals	34,097	38,742	76,813	82,194
Tenant expense reimbursements	1,267	1,543	2,501	3,307
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	56,304	32,369	111,363	73,068
Management and leasing fees	1	200	46	303
Lease termination fees	117		505
Other	312	(481)	740	1,248
Total revenues	92,098	72,373	191,968	160,120
Operating expenses	16,258	21,767	40,799	49,921
Depreciation and amortization	7,869	6,991	14,885	13,952
General and administrative	4,848	6,406	10,757	13,453
Cleveland Medical Mart development project	53,935	29,940	106,696	68,218
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs				3,040
Total expenses	82,910	65,104	173,137	148,584
Operating income	9,188	7,269	18,831	11,536
Income from partially owned entities	185	178	341	254
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net		0
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(7,781)	(7,781)	(15,561)	(15,476)
Income loss before income taxes	1,592	(334)	3,611	(3,686)
Income tax expense	(892)	(695)	(1,823)	(739)
Income from continuing operations	700	(1,029)	1,788	(4,425)
Income from discontinued operations	(9,588)	3,294	47,499	87,882
Net income	(8,888)	2,265	49,287	83,457
Net income attributable to Vornado	(8,888)	2,265	49,287	83,457
Interest and debt expense (2)	8,786	9,595	17,576	22,502
Depreciation and amortization (2)	9,826	11,227	19,304	22,402
Income tax expense	1,215	911	2,377	1,321
EBITDA	10,939	23,998	88,544	129,682
Merchandise Mart Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	185	178	341	254
Toys R Us Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Income loss before income taxes	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Income tax expense	0
Income from continuing operations	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Income from discontinued operations	0
Net income	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Net income attributable to Vornado	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Interest and debt expense (2)	37,293	43,393	68,862	83,528
Depreciation and amortization (2)	32,505	32,896	67,211	67,569
Income tax expense	(14,103)	(23,969)	29,100	45,049
EBITDA	36,505	29,474	262,454	286,244
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	(19,190)	(22,846)	97,281	90,098
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property rentals	22,431	22,351	44,680	45,355
Straight Line Rent Adjustments	(34)	719	326	1,749
Amortization of acquired below-market leases, net	1,489	1,109	2,857	2,248
Total rentals	23,886	24,179	47,863	49,352
Tenant expense reimbursements	1,309	1,353	2,876	5,616
Tenant cleaning fees	(6,929)	(6,891)	(14,066)	(13,510)
Management and leasing fees	(20)	(20)	(38)	(226)
Other	(78)	136	(181)	172
Total revenues	18,168	18,757	36,454	41,404
Operating expenses	2,495	3,759	4,983	8,984
Depreciation and amortization	10,586	10,900	21,132	21,495
General and administrative	22,732	23,758	50,521	53,876
Tenant buy-outs and other acquisition related costs	2,559	1,897	3,244	2,127
Total expenses	38,372	40,314	79,880	86,482
Operating income	(20,204)	(21,557)	(43,426)	(45,078)
Income from partially owned entities	5,752	20,562	22,537	33,560
Income from Real Estate Fund (of which $12,306 and $12,102 in each three-month period, respectively, and $20,239 and $12,028 in each six-month period, respectively, are attributable to noncontrolling interests)	20,301	19,058	32,063	20,138
Interest and other investment (loss) income, net	(50,264)	6,908	(35,709)	122,895
Interest and debt expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs of $5,855 and $5,191, in each three-month period, respectively, and $11,720 and $9,792 in each six-month period, respectively)	(35,963)	(38,655)	(76,651)	(78,997)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	4,856		4,856	6,677
Income loss before income taxes	(75,522)	(13,684)	(96,330)	59,195
Income tax expense	(4,671)	(4,002)	(9,514)	(8,712)
Income from continuing operations	(80,193)	(17,686)	(105,844)	50,483
Income from discontinued operations	7,175	(118)	6,990	(243)
Net income	(73,018)	(17,804)	(98,854)	50,240
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Consolidated subsidiaries	(11,820)	(11,263)	(19,355)	(10,497)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in: Operating Partnership, including unit distributions	(5,210)	(8,731)		(40,539)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership, including unit distributions			(24,355)
Net income attributable to Vornado	(90,048)	(37,798)	(142,564)	(796)
Interest and debt expense (2)	45,799	49,811	97,369	102,437
Depreciation and amortization (2)	16,246	18,902	30,789	37,919
Income tax expense	5,527	4,665	11,386	745
EBITDA	(22,476)	35,580	(3,020)	140,305
Other Segment [Member] | Toys R Us [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	0		0
Other Segment [Member] | All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from partially owned entities	$ 5,752	$ 20,562	$ 22,537	$ 33,560