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Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Real Estate [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Paid, Capitalized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,269,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash And Cash Equivalent Maturity Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 months |  |
Short-term Investments [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturity, Date Range, Low |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 months |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturity, Date Range, High |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 months |  |
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable | 2,219,000 |  |  |  | 1,039,000 |  |  |  | 2,219,000 | 1,039,000 |
Income Taxes [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investment Trust Distributable Income Policy |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |
Internal Taxable Income Distribution Policy |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Differences Between Book and Tax Basis | 184,806,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 184,806,000 |  |
Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |
Reconciliation of Net Income to Estimated Taxable Income [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Alexander's | 617,157,000 | 18,856,000 | 18,892,000 | 19,482,000 | 20,634,000 | 20,425,000 | 20,157,000 | 18,207,000 | 674,387,000 | 79,423,000 | 66,429,000
Additional tax gain on the sale of real estate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,928,000 | 0 | 0
Straight-lining of rental income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4,475,000) | (12,609,000) | (15,182,000)
Depreciation and amortization timing differences |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 910,000 | 1,263,000 | 602,000
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (3,162,000)
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,000 | (2,425,000) | 0
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,396,000 | (3,429,000) | 6,245,000
Taxable income before NOL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 699,175,000 | 62,223,000 | 54,932,000
NOL carried forward | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (16,939,000)
Taxable income/(NOL) | $ 699,175,000 |  |  |  | $ 62,223,000 |  |  |  | $ 699,175,000 | $ 62,223,000 | $ 37,993,000
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |
Rego Park 1 Shopping [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of cash mortgage collateralized | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |

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