Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Real estate fund investments	Other	Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Capital	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Other	Vornado Realty L.P.	Vornado Realty L.P. Real estate fund investments	Vornado Realty L.P. Other	Vornado Realty L.P. Preferred Shares	Vornado Realty L.P. Class A Units Owned by Vornado	Vornado Realty L.P. Earnings Less Than Distributions	Vornado Realty L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Real estate fund investments	Vornado Realty L.P. Non- controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries Other	Series G & I Preferred Stock	Series G & I Preferred Stock Vornado Realty L.P.	Series G & I Preferred Stock Vornado Realty L.P. Earnings Less Than Distributions
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016				42,825	189,101										42,825	189,101
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 7,618,496			$ 1,038,055	$ 7,542	$ 7,153,332	$ (1,419,382)	$ 118,972	$ 719,977			$ 7,618,496			$ 1,038,055	$ 7,160,874	$ (1,419,382)	$ 118,972	$ 719,977
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	195,982						195,982					206,917					206,917
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(10,935)											(10,935)					(10,935)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	14,414	$ 8,198							14,414			14,414							14,414
Dividends on common shares	(268,817)						(268,817)
Distributions to Vornado												(268,817)					(268,817)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(32,258)						(32,258)					(32,258)					(32,258)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					249											249
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	25,562				$ 10	25,552						25,562				$ 25,562
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, shares					103											103
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	8,846				$ 4	8,842						8,846				$ 8,846
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					8											8
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	780					780						780				$ 780
Contributions:
Contributions	991								991			991							991
Distributions:
Distributions	(18,078)	(6,200)	$ (1,339)							$ (6,200)	$ (1,339)		$ (6,200)	$ (1,339)						$ (6,200)	$ (1,339)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, shares				(2)	2										(2)	2
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value	0			$ (44)		44						0			$ (44)	$ 44
Deferred compensation shares and options, shares					2											2
Deferred compensation shares and options, value	791					1,076	(285)					791				$ 1,076	(285)
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(16,215)							(16,215)				(16,215)						(16,215)
Pro rata share of amounts reclassified related to a nonconsolidated subsidiary	9,268							9,268				9,268						9,268
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,031)							(1,031)				(1,031)						(1,031)
Increase in value of interest rate swaps	4,636							4,636				4,636						4,636
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	90,208					90,208						90,208				$ 90,208
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	207							207				207						207
Other, value	(91)						(46)	2	(47)			(91)					(46)	2	(47)
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2017				42,823	189,465										42,823	189,465
Ending balance, value at Jun. 30, 2017	7,644,230			$ 1,038,011	$ 7,556	7,279,834	(1,524,806)	115,839	727,796			7,644,230			$ 1,038,011	$ 7,287,390	(1,524,806)	115,839	727,796
Beginning balance, value at Mar. 31, 2017								119,019
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	132,101											139,807
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(7,706)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	7,677	4,695										7,677
Distributions:
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	(1,206)											(1,206)
Pro rata share of amounts reclassified related to a nonconsolidated subsidiary	0											0
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(980)											(980)
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2017				42,823	189,465										42,823	189,465
Ending balance, value at Jun. 30, 2017	7,644,230			$ 1,038,011	$ 7,556	7,279,834	(1,524,806)	115,839	727,796			7,644,230			$ 1,038,011	$ 7,287,390	(1,524,806)	115,839	727,796
Cumulative effect of accounting change (see Note 3)	14,519						122,893	(108,374)				14,519					122,893	(108,374)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				36,800	189,984										36,800	189,984
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2017	5,007,701			$ 891,988	$ 7,577	7,492,658	(4,183,253)	128,682	670,049			5,007,701			$ 891,988	$ 7,500,235	(4,183,253)	128,682	670,049
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	133,748						133,748					140,069					140,069
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(6,321)											(6,321)					(6,321)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(34,449)	(34,896)							(34,449)			(34,449)							(34,449)
Dividends on common shares	(239,594)						(239,594)
Distributions to Vornado												(239,594)					(239,594)
Dividends on preferred shares / Distributions to preferred unitholders	(25,569)						(25,569)					(25,569)					(25,569)
Preferred share issuance costs	(14,486)						(14,486)															$ (14,486)	$ (14,486)	$ (14,486)
Common shares issued: / Class A Units issued to Vornado
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, shares					176											176
Upon redemption of Class A units, at redemption value, value	12,246				$ 7	12,239						12,246				$ 12,246
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, shares					61											61
Under Vornado's employees' share option plan, value	3,786				$ 3	3,783						3,786				$ 3,786
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, shares					10											10
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, value	685					685						685				$ 685
Contributions:
Contributions		45,347	14,211							45,347	14,211		45,347	14,211						45,347	14,211
Distributions:
Distributions	(15,891)	(10,246)	$ (23,201)							$ (10,246)	$ (23,201)		$ (10,246)	$ (23,201)						$ (10,246)	$ (23,201)
Preferred unit issuance												(663)			$ (663)
Conversion of Series A preferred shares to common shares / Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, value	(663)			$ (663)
Deferred compensation shares and options, shares					7											7
Deferred compensation shares and options, value	464					585	(121)					464				$ 585	(121)
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	0											0
Pro rata share of amounts reclassified related to a nonconsolidated subsidiary	0											0
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	736							736				736						736
Increase in value of interest rate swaps	13,166							13,166				13,166						13,166
Unearned 2015 Out-Performance Plan awards acceleration	9,046					9,046						9,046				9,046
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	36,450					36,450						36,450				36,450
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(859)							(859)				(859)						(859)
Other, value	549					547	1		1			549				$ 547	1		1
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018				36,800	190,238										36,800	190,238
Ending balance, value at Jun. 30, 2018	4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,587	7,555,993	(4,206,381)	33,351	661,712			4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,563,580	(4,206,381)	33,351	661,712
Beginning balance, value at Mar. 31, 2018								30,258
Net income attributable to Vornado / Vornado Realty L.P.	124,068											131,513
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(7,445)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(26,175)	$ (29,527)										(26,175)
Distributions:
Reduction in unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities	0											0
Pro rata share of amounts reclassified related to a nonconsolidated subsidiary	0											0
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	390											390
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018				36,800	190,238										36,800	190,238
Ending balance, value at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,587	$ 7,555,993	$ (4,206,381)	$ 33,351	$ 661,712			$ 4,943,587			$ 891,325	$ 7,563,580	$ (4,206,381)	$ 33,351	$ 661,712