Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 73,847	$ (91,608)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	145,886	150,648
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	18,226	24,747
Other non-cash adjustments	17,535	15,248
Straight-lining of rents	(15,522)	(41,626)
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(11,459)	(17,507)
Net realized and unrealized loss (gain) on real estate fund investments	6,946	(6,611)
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	(2,267)	0
Equity in net (income) loss of partially owned entities	(1,445)	4,240
Net gains on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(501)	(714)
Skyline properties impairment loss	0	160,700
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	0	14,676
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant and other receivables, net	6,947	800
Prepaid assets	68,445	64,851
Other assets	(12,766)	(20,113)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	8,315	12,774
Other liabilities	(902)	1,027
Net cash provided by operating activities	301,285	271,532
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Development costs and construction in progress	(98,227)	(127,283)
Additions to real estate	(67,363)	(77,243)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	11,592	30,637
Investments in partially owned entities	(6,679)	(63,188)
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	5,180	2,867
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(1,171)	(938)
Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans receivable	14	11
Net cash used in investing activities	(156,654)	(235,137)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(134,332)	(118,867)
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(16,129)	(20,364)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(14,281)	(21,474)
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options / Vornado stock options	8,484	2,523
Repayments of borrowings	(6,987)	(909,617)
Proceeds from borrowings	2,529	887,500
Repurchase of shares / Class A units related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(264)	(185)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	75	0
Debt issuance and other costs	(43)	(16,704)
Net cash used in financing activities	(160,948)	(197,188)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(16,317)	(160,793)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,599,322	1,943,506
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,583,005	1,782,713
Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,501,027	1,835,707
Restricted cash at beginning of period	98,295	107,799
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,599,322	1,943,506
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,484,814	1,673,566
Restricted cash at end of period	98,191	109,147
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,583,005	1,782,713
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $9,364 and $7,497	88,078	91,719
Cash payments for income taxes	1,512	2,193
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	57,993	113,755
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(15,809)	(187,419)
(Reduction) increase in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(15,009)	11,094
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	6,197	36,524
Vornado Realty L.P.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	73,847	(91,608)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	145,886	150,648
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	18,226	24,747
Other non-cash adjustments	17,535	15,248
Straight-lining of rents	(15,522)	(41,626)
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(11,459)	(17,507)
Net realized and unrealized loss (gain) on real estate fund investments	6,946	(6,611)
Net gains on sale of real estate and other	(2,267)	0
Equity in net (income) loss of partially owned entities	(1,445)	4,240
Net gains on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(501)	(714)
Skyline properties impairment loss	0	160,700
Return of capital from real estate fund investments	0	14,676
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant and other receivables, net	6,947	800
Prepaid assets	68,445	64,851
Other assets	(12,766)	(20,113)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	8,315	12,774
Other liabilities	(902)	1,027
Net cash provided by operating activities	301,285	271,532
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Development costs and construction in progress	(98,227)	(127,283)
Additions to real estate	(67,363)	(77,243)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	11,592	30,637
Investments in partially owned entities	(6,679)	(63,188)
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	5,180	2,867
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(1,171)	(938)
Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans receivable	14	11
Net cash used in investing activities	(156,654)	(235,137)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends paid on common shares / Distributions to Vornado	(134,332)	(118,867)
Dividends paid on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(16,129)	(20,364)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests / Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(14,281)	(21,474)
Proceeds received from exercise of employee share options / Vornado stock options	8,484	2,523
Repayments of borrowings	(6,987)	(909,617)
Proceeds from borrowings	2,529	887,500
Repurchase of shares / Class A units related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings and other	(264)	(185)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests / noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	75	0
Debt issuance and other costs	(43)	(16,704)
Net cash used in financing activities	(160,948)	(197,188)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(16,317)	(160,793)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,599,322	1,943,506
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,583,005	1,782,713
Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,501,027	1,835,707
Restricted cash at beginning of period	98,295	107,799
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,599,322	1,943,506
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,484,814	1,673,566
Restricted cash at end of period	98,191	109,147
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,583,005	1,782,713
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest, excluding capitalized interest of $9,364 and $7,497	88,078	91,719
Cash payments for income taxes	1,512	2,193
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	57,993	113,755
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(15,809)	(187,419)
(Reduction) increase in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(15,009)	11,094
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	$ 6,197	$ 36,524