Earnings Per Share (Net Income (Loss) for Purposes of Determining Basic and Diluted EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ 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	Jan. 15, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income 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
Income attributed to participating securities, basic									(7,464)	(7,016)	(6,071)
Net income available to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd., basic									93,510	51,089	78,501
Income attributable to 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes									(1,255)	0	0
Income attributed to participating securities, diluted									(7,464)	(7,016)	(6,071)
Net income available to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd., diluted									$ 92,255	$ 51,089	$ 78,501
7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019 | Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.50%								7.50%			7.50%