Segment Reporting (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2014 Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 Real Estate Investments	Dec. 31, 2013 Real Estate Investments	Feb. 28, 2014 Domestic	Jun. 30, 2014 Domestic Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 Domestic Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2014 Domestic Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 Domestic Real Estate Investments	Dec. 31, 2013 Domestic Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2014 International Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 International Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2014 International Real Estate Investments	Jun. 30, 2013 International Real Estate Investments	Dec. 31, 2013 International Real Estate Investments
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Revenues	$ 252,907	$ 112,221	$ 461,916	$ 218,251		$ 176,734	$ 77,657	$ 311,806	$ 154,141			$ 119,652	$ 54,189	$ 207,112	$ 107,831		$ 57,082	$ 23,468	$ 104,694	$ 46,310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and after loss on sale of real estate, net of tax						44,297	44,066	146,850	66,833			30,851	40,502	144,773	57,324		13,446	3,564	2,077	9,509
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,344)	(2,692)	(3,921)	(4,400)		(2,325)	(2,594)	(3,713)	(4,819)			(1,123)	(2,692)	(2,239)	(4,810)		(1,202)	98	(1,474)	(9)
Net Income attributable to W. P. Carey	64,739	43,167	178,915	57,348		61,469	43,107	173,157	59,799			51,009	41,432	170,625	53,442		10,460	1,675	2,532	6,357
Assets
Long-lived assets	5,456,613		5,456,613		3,333,654	5,456,613		5,456,613		3,333,654		3,744,496		3,744,496		2,172,549	1,712,117		1,712,117		1,161,105
Non-recourse debt	$ 2,823,415		$ 2,823,415		$ 1,492,410	$ 2,823,415		$ 2,823,415		$ 1,492,410	$ 6,000	$ 1,641,439		$ 1,641,439		$ 874,035	$ 1,181,976		$ 1,181,976		$ 618,375