Capital (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	May 16, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units outstanding (shares)	299,700,000
OP units owned by the Company (shares)	181,900,000
OP units not owned by the Company (shares)	117,800,000
Percentage of dividends on common stock received until performance criteria met for LTIP units	10.00%
Percentage of dividends on common stock received after performance criteria met for LTIP units	90.00%
Percentage of dividends on common stock received in periods after performance criteria met for LTIP units	100.00%
Costs incurred due to exchange offer	$ 0.5
Private Perpetual Preferred Units, Series 2019
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Private perpetual preferred units, issued (in shares)	4,610,383
Private perpetual preferred units, liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share)	$ 13.52
Cumulative cash distributions (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70
Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	4,610,383
Series ES Operating Partnership Units Limited Partners
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company (shares)	25,809,604		30,129,556
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	1,632,667
Series 250 Operating Partnership Units Limited Partners
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company (shares)	3,535,197		4,063,737
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	186,799
Series 60 Operating Partnership Units Limited Partners
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company (shares)	7,025,089		8,019,509
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	302,608
Series PR Operating Partnership Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Preferred units, number of shares received in exchange	2,488,309
Private Perpetual Preferred Units, Series 2014
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Private perpetual preferred units, issued (in shares)	1,560,360		1,560,360
Private perpetual preferred units (shares)	1,560,360
Private perpetual preferred units, liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share)	$ 16.62		$ 16.62
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60
2019 Plan
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Number of shares authorized under the plan (in shares)	11,000,000.0	11,000,000.0
Empire State Realty OP | Empire State Realty Trust
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units owned by the Company, percent	60.70%
Empire State Realty OP | Other partners, certain directors, member of senior management and other employees
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company, percent	39.30%