Quarterly Financial Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 29, 2015	Sep. 26, 2014
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 430,330	$ 449,934	$ 416,173	$ 360,760	$ 417,590	$ 419,876	$ 406,613	$ 347,236	$ 1,657,197	$ 1,591,315	$ 1,079,921
Gross Profit	137,742	154,017	136,969	118,742	126,085	132,640	127,331	108,199
Operating income	31,032	69,367	55,803	43,718	47,136	62,746	60,071	42,485	199,920	212,438	111,186
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	$ 7,904	$ 12,466	$ 17,607	$ 21,221	$ 12,215	$ 14,190	$ 7,917	$ 2,534	$ 59,198	$ 36,856	$ 37,300
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.10	$ 0.14	$ 0.18	$ 0.11	$ 0.13	$ 0.07	$ 0.02	$ 0.49	$ 0.33	$ 0.36
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.10	$ 0.14	$ 0.18	$ 0.11	$ 0.13	$ 0.07	$ 0.02	$ 0.49	$ 0.33	$ 0.36
Stock dividend paid												5.00%	5.00%
Adoption of Equity Method [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Operating income		$ (238)	$ (237)	$ (237)		$ (238)	$ (237)	$ (237)		$ 212,438	$ 111,186
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		$ 261	$ (261)	$ 265		$ (689)	$ (8)	$ (46)		$ 36,856	$ 37,300