Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Real Estate Fund [Member]	All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]	Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real Estate Fund [Member]	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 7,904,144			$ 1,240,278	$ 7,440	$ 7,195,438	$ (1,573,275)	$ (18,946)	$ 1,053,209
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012				51,185	186,735
Net income attributable to Vornado	421,116						421,116	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	26,216	23,899							26,216
Dividends on common shares, Value	(272,825)						(272,825)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(42,070)						(42,070)
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Shares				12,000
Issuance of Series L preferred shares, Value	290,536			290,536
Redemption of Series F and Series H preferred shares, Shares				(10,500)
Redemption of Series F and Series H preferred shares, Value	(253,269)			(253,269)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					180
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	14,980				7	14,973
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					62
Under employees' share option plan, Value	3,567				3	3,564	0
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					11
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	903				0	903
Contributions:
Contributions		18,781	15,186							18,781	15,186
Distribution:
Distributions		(43,145)	(120,051)							(43,145)	(120,051)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in Real Estate Fund	0
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(2)	3
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				(90)		90
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					0
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	4,481				0	4,786	(305)
Change in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	169,138							169,138
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(23,354)							(23,354)
Change in value of interest rate swap	14,560							14,560
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(29,393)					(29,393)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(9,034)							(9,034)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	(1,130)						(1,130)
Deconsolidation of partially owned entity	(165,427)								(165,427)
Other	(2,683)					(25)	(3,154)	530	(34)
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2013	7,921,227			1,277,455	7,450	7,190,336	(1,471,643)	132,894	784,735
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2013				52,683	186,991
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2013	7,594,744			1,277,225	7,469	7,143,840	(1,734,839)	71,537	829,512
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013				52,683	187,285
Net income attributable to Vornado	179,725						179,725	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	75,554	72,629							75,554
Dividends on common shares, Value	(273,694)						(273,694)
Dividends on preferred shares, Value	(40,734)						(40,734)
Common shares issued:
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Shares					199
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, Value	19,771				8	19,763
Under employees' share option plan, Shares					159
Under employees' share option plan, Value	9,206				6	9,200
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Shares					9
Under dividend reinvestment plan, Value	919					919
Contributions:
Contributions		5,297								5,297
Distribution:
Distributions		(132,819)	(301)							(132,819)	(301)
Transfer of noncontrolling interest in Real Estate Fund	(33,028)	(33,028)								(33,028)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Shares				(4)	6
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares, Value				(193)	0	193
Deferred compensation shares and options, Shares					7
Deferred compensation shares and options, Value	3,044				1	3,383	(340)
Change in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	15,003							15,003
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	5,877							5,877
Change in value of interest rate swap	1,065							1,065
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(227,338)					(227,338)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(1,260)							(1,260)
Preferred unit and share redemptions	0
Other	(2,677)			(6)		(297)	(2,368)	(1)	(5)
Ending balance, Value at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 7,198,354			$ 1,277,026	$ 7,484	$ 6,949,663	$ (1,872,250)	$ 92,221	$ 744,210
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2014				52,679	187,665