Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,056,200	[1]	$ 1,084,546	[1]	$ 1,133,380	[1]
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	747,186	[1]	823,452	[1]	892,883	[1]
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses	108,872		106,161		97,176
Litigation judgment expense	88,106		0		0
Operating income	112,036		154,933		143,321
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(132,147)		(110,102)		(100,706)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21,458)		0		0
Changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	18,935		(7,476)		7,984
Acceleration of interest expense related to debt conversion	(12,414)		(14,960)		(1,217)
Gain on liquidation of long-term investments	0		0		25,832
Equity (loss) income on long-term investments	2,066		(1,261)		(859)
Gain on sale of investment securities available for sale	5,152		1,640		23,257
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses	22,925		29,764		19,966
Gain on townhomes	0		0		3,843
Gain on acquisition of Douglas Elliman	60,842		0		0
Other, net	7,550		1,179		1,736
Income before provision for income taxes	63,487		53,717		123,157
Income tax expense	24,795		23,095		48,137
Net income	38,692		30,622		75,020
Net loss attributed to non-controlling interest	252		0		0
Net income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	$ 38,944		$ 30,622		$ 75,020
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41		$ 0.34		$ 0.85
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41		$ 0.34		$ 0.84
Cash distributions declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54		$ 1.47		$ 1.40

[1] Revenues and cost of goods sold include federal excise taxes of $456,703, $508,027 and $552,965 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.