Income (Loss) Per Share/Income (Loss) Per Class A Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	$ 64,512	$ (185,220)	$ 85,062	$ (167,726)
Preferred share dividends / unit distributions	(16,467)	(12,530)	(32,934)	(25,061)
NET INCOME (LOSS) attributable to common shareholders / Class A unitholders	48,045	(197,750)	52,128	(192,787)
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(9)	(18)	(18)	(69)
Numerator for basic and diluted income (loss) per share / Class A unit	$ 48,036	$ (197,768)	$ 52,110	$ (192,856)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share - weighted average shares (in shares)	191,527	191,104	191,473	191,071
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per share - weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	192,380	191,104	192,207	191,071
INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC:
Net income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ (1.03)	$ 0.27	$ (1.01)
INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED:
Net income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ (1.03)	$ 0.27	$ (1.01)
Out-Performance Plan units
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities	830	0	719	0
AO LTIP units
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities	18	0	11	0
Employee stock options and restricted stock awards
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities	5	0	4	0
Vornado Realty L.P.
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	$ 68,048	$ (199,584)	$ 88,927	$ (181,700)
Preferred share dividends / unit distributions	(16,508)	(12,571)	(33,016)	(25,143)
NET INCOME (LOSS) attributable to common shareholders / Class A unitholders	51,540	(212,155)	55,911	(206,843)
Earnings allocated to unvested participating securities	(664)	(1,439)	(1,385)	(6,357)
Numerator for basic and diluted income (loss) per share / Class A unit	$ 50,876	$ (213,594)	$ 54,526	$ (213,200)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic income (loss) per Class A unit - weighted average units and assumed conversions	204,621	203,512	204,560	203,441
Effect of dilutive securities			1,012	0
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per Class A unit - weighted average units	205,814	203,512	205,572	203,441
INCOME (LOSS) PER CLASS A UNIT - BASIC:
Net income (loss) per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.25	$ (1.05)	$ 0.27	$ (1.05)
INCOME (LOSS) PER CLASS A UNIT - DILUTED:
Net income (loss) per Class A unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.25	$ (1.05)	$ 0.27	$ (1.05)
Vornado Realty L.P. | Vornado stock options, Vornado restricted stock awards, OP Units, AO LTIP Units and OPPs
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities	1,193	0