Quarterly Financial Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 27, 2018	Sep. 28, 2017	Sep. 29, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 439,565	$ 504,790	$ 538,432	$ 420,924	$ 445,939	$ 513,869	$ 481,488	$ 428,966	$ 1,903,711	$ 1,870,262	$ 1,807,476
Gross Profit	137,636	159,334	170,258	134,904	140,798	153,567	148,722	134,691
Operating income	45,581	66,720	76,244	42,590	48,086	66,018	61,861	48,084	231,135	224,049	235,648
Net income	10,667	36,008	39,307	15,033	20,319	15,028	18,996	3,664	101,015	58,007	90,750
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	$ 10,706	$ 36,008	$ 39,307	$ 14,953	$ 21,074	$ 12,002	$ 17,818	$ 7,211	$ 100,974	$ 58,105	$ 84,572
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.23	$ 0.25	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.07	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.64	$ 0.35	$ 0.54
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.23	$ 0.25	$ 0.08	$ 0.13	$ 0.07	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.63	$ 0.35	$ 0.54
Stock dividend paid to company stockholders												5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%