Capital - Additional Information and Private Perpetual Preferred Units (Details) - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	May 16, 2019
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units outstanding (in shares)	304,256,572
Dividends on common stock received until performance criteria met for LTIP units (as a percent)	10.00%
Dividends on common stock received after performance criteria met for LTIP units (as a percent)	90.00%
Dividends on common stock received in periods after performance criteria met for LTIP units (as a percent)	100.00%
2019 Plan
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Number of shares authorized under the plan (in shares)	11,000,000.0	11,000,000.0
Private Perpetual Preferred Units
Shares and Units [Abstract]
Maximum number of shares offered in exchange (in shares)	15,000,000
Liquidation preference (in USD per share)	$ 13.52
Cumulative preferential annual cash distributions per unit (in USD per share)	$ 0.70
Percentage of liquidation preference	200.00%
Empire State Realty Trust
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units owned by the Company (in shares)	180,149,553
Other Partners, Certain Directors, Officers And Other Members Of Executive Management
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company (in shares)	124,107,019
Empire State Realty OP \| Empire State Realty Trust
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units owned by the Company (as a percent)	59.20%
Empire State Realty OP \| Other Partners, Certain Directors, Officers And Other Members Of Executive Management
Shares and Units [Abstract]
OP units not owned by the Company (as a percent)	40.80%

Percentage of Dividends on Common Stock Received After Performance Criteria Met for LTIP Units

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Percentage of Dividends on Common Stock Received In Periods After Performance Criteria Met for LTIP Units

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The number of general partner units outstanding.

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Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

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The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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The per share liquidation preference (or restrictions) of nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) that has a preference in involuntary liquidation considerably in excess of the par or stated value of the shares. The liquidation preference is the difference between the preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the share.

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Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

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The number of units or equivalent units outstanding for all classes.

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