Quarterly Financial Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 29, 2020	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 27, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 554,590	$ 547,831	$ 445,760	$ 454,488	$ 439,565	$ 504,790	$ 538,432	$ 420,924	$ 2,002,669	$ 1,903,711	$ 1,870,262
Gross Profit	177,528	173,256	140,875	143,865	137,636	159,334	170,258	134,904
Operating income	87,333	95,917	66,797	(4,904)	45,581	66,720	76,244	42,590	245,143	231,135	224,049
Net income	32,256	38,139	25,774	(3,231)	10,667	36,008	39,307	15,033	92,938	101,015	58,007
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd.	$ 32,256	$ 38,139	$ 25,774	$ (3,231)	$ 10,706	$ 36,008	$ 39,307	$ 14,953	$ 92,938	$ 100,974	$ 58,105
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.25	$ 0.17	$ (0.03)	$ 0.06	$ 0.23	$ 0.25	$ 0.09	$ 0.60	$ 0.64	$ 0.35
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.25	$ 0.16	$ (0.03)	$ 0.06	$ 0.23	$ 0.25	$ 0.08	$ 0.60	$ 0.63	$ 0.35
Stock dividend paid to company stockholders												5.00%	5.00%	5.00%