Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock, authorized	450,000,000	450,000,000	450,000,000
Real estate tax expense		$ 59,800,000	$ 37,300,000	$ 18,700,000
Transaction gains or losses
Foreign currency transaction losses		(400,000)	(200,000)	(600,000)
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	2,300,000
Equity investments in real estate	530,020,000	249,403,000	530,020,000
Deferred tax asset
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	2,300,000
Deferred tax liability
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	37,500,000
Assets
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	32,400,000
Goodwill
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	31,400,000
Net investment in property
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	1,000,000
Net income
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment	(2,000,000)
Income from continuing operations
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment, number of investments				2
Operating income
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment				2,500,000
Gain on sale of real estate
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment				2,000,000
Internal-use software development costs | Minimum
Depreciation
Fixed asset useful life		3 years
Internal-use software development costs | Maximum
Depreciation
Fixed asset useful life		5 years
Building and building improvements
Depreciation
Fixed asset useful life		40 years
Furniture and fixtures
Depreciation
Fixed asset useful life		7 years
CWI 2
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock maximum offering amount					1,000,000,000
Common stock maximum offering value per dividend reinvestment plan					400,000,000
CWI 2 | Subsequent Event
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock maximum offering amount						1,400,000,000
Common stock maximum offering value per dividend reinvestment plan						600,000,000
Carey Credit Income Fund Series 2015 A
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock, authorized							50,000,000
Carey Credit Income Fund Series 2015 T
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock, authorized							21,000,000
Carey Credit Income Fund
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Equity investments in real estate	$ 0	$ 25,000,000	$ 0
CPA: 15 - Global | Accounting for deferred foreign income taxes
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment, number of properties	95
CPA: 15 - Global | Accounting for deferred foreign income taxes | Acquired 2000-2013
Out-of-Period Adjustment
Out of period adjustment, number of properties	7