Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 666,606	$ 671,216	$ 1,327,224	$ 1,389,929
Total expenses	439,129	461,154	934,113	929,573
Operating income	227,477	210,062	393,111	460,356
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(53,742)	(35,389)	(51,763)	(12,864)
Income from real estate fund	100,110	34,470	118,258	51,034
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	9,435	26,415	21,328	(22,660)
Interest and debt expense	(117,051)	(120,657)	(226,493)	(241,003)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets other than depreciable real estate	905	1,005	10,540	(35,719)
Income before income taxes	167,134	115,906	264,981	199,144
Income tax (benefit) expense	(3,599)	(2,877)	(5,181)	(3,950)
Income from continuing operations	163,535	113,029	259,800	195,194
Income from discontinued operations	2,152	69,292	4,043	276,054
Net income	165,687	182,321	263,843	471,248
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(63,975)	(14,930)	(75,554)	(26,216)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	101,712	167,391	188,289	445,032
Interest and debt expense	179,520	179,461	350,472	368,241
Depreciation and amortization	173,443	182,131	369,782	376,316
Income tax (benefit) expense	(574)	(22,366)	19,257	38,393
EBITDA	454,101	506,617	927,800	1,227,982
New York Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	385,534	375,700	756,816	740,501
Total expenses	230,812	233,733	472,811	476,660
Operating income	154,722	141,967	284,005	263,841
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	8,996	4,226	10,562	9,831
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	1,645	1,443	3,120	2,608
Interest and debt expense	(49,070)	(42,648)	(91,909)	(83,079)
Income before income taxes	116,293	104,988	205,778	193,201
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,226)	(961)	(2,195)	(1,233)
Income from continuing operations	115,067	104,027	203,583	191,968
Income from discontinued operations		2,928		5,656
Net income	115,067	106,955	203,583	197,624
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(3,108)	(1,381)	(4,513)	(2,962)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	111,959	105,574	199,070	194,662
Interest and debt expense	64,072	54,546	122,140	104,235
Depreciation and amortization	74,007	74,573	161,594	152,986
Income tax (benefit) expense	1,291	1,030	2,323	1,377
EBITDA	251,329	235,723	485,127	453,260
Washington DC Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	134,826	134,317	270,104	269,048
Total expenses	87,352	85,782	176,924	170,979
Operating income	47,474	48,535	93,180	98,069
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(2,248)	(2,449)	(3,514)	(4,542)
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	42	6	78	82
Interest and debt expense	(18,660)	(27,854)	(38,007)	(56,104)
Income before income taxes	26,608	18,238	51,737	37,505
Income tax (benefit) expense	(115)	(805)	84	(1,183)
Income from continuing operations	26,493	17,433	51,821	36,322
Income from discontinued operations				0
Net income	26,493	17,433	51,821	36,322
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	26,493	17,433	51,821	36,322
Interest and debt expense	22,463	31,245	45,261	62,998
Depreciation and amortization	35,806	35,248	71,956	70,396
Income tax (benefit) expense	132	852	(57)	1,306
EBITDA	84,894	84,778	168,981	171,022
Retail Properties Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	82,807	80,446	171,612	222,658
Total expenses	48,053	47,038	130,284	95,618
Operating income	34,754	33,408	41,328	127,040
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	341	423	879	1,324
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	8	(49)	17	2
Interest and debt expense	(9,292)	(11,517)	(18,509)	(21,803)
Income before income taxes	25,811	22,265	23,715	106,563
Income tax (benefit) expense	(319)	(749)	(1,050)	(749)
Income from continuing operations	25,492	21,516	22,665	105,814
Income from discontinued operations	2,154	66,091	3,868	271,473
Net income	27,646	87,607	26,533	377,287
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(21)	(13)	(38)	(109)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	27,625	87,594	26,495	377,178
Interest and debt expense	10,433	13,715	20,784	27,938
Depreciation and amortization	15,803	16,348	41,131	34,867
Income tax (benefit) expense	319	749	1,050	749
EBITDA	54,180	118,406	89,460	440,732
Toys R Us Segment [Member] | Other Non-Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(57,591)	(36,861)	(55,744)	(35,102)
Income before income taxes	(57,591)	(36,861)	(55,744)	(35,102)
Income from continuing operations	(57,591)	(36,861)	(55,744)	(35,102)
Net income	(57,591)	(36,861)	(55,744)	(35,102)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	(57,591)	(36,861)	(55,744)	(35,102)
Interest and debt expense	39,529	37,730	78,078	80,912
Depreciation and amortization	27,686	33,882	54,610	71,556
Income tax (benefit) expense	(4,435)	(25,697)	13,642	33,649
EBITDA	5,189	9,054	90,586	151,015
Other Segment [Member] | Other Non-Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	63,439	80,753	128,692	157,722
Total expenses	72,912	94,601	154,094	186,316
Operating income	(9,473)	(13,848)	(25,402)	(28,594)
(Loss) income from partially owned entities	(3,240)	(728)	(3,946)	15,625
Income from real estate fund	100,110	34,470	118,258	51,034
Interest and other investment income (loss), net	7,740	25,015	18,113	(25,352)
Interest and debt expense	(40,029)	(38,638)	(78,068)	(80,017)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets other than depreciable real estate	905	1,005	10,540	(35,719)
Income before income taxes	56,013	7,276	39,495	(103,023)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,939)	(362)	(2,020)	(785)
Income from continuing operations	54,074	6,914	37,475	(103,808)
Income from discontinued operations	(2)	273	175	(1,075)
Net income	54,072	7,187	37,650	(104,883)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(60,846)	(13,536)	(71,003)	(23,145)
Net income attributable to Vornado Realty L.P.	(6,774)	(6,349)	(33,353)	(128,028)
Interest and debt expense	43,023	42,225	84,209	92,158
Depreciation and amortization	20,141	22,080	40,491	46,511
Income tax (benefit) expense	2,119	700	2,299	1,312
EBITDA	$ 58,509	$ 58,656	$ 93,646	$ 11,953