Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Owned Real Estate:
Lease revenues	$ 163,786	$ 164,741	$ 506,358	$ 487,480
Operating property revenues	8,524	8,107	23,696	23,645
Reimbursable tenant costs	6,537	5,340	19,237	17,409
Lease termination income and other	1,224	2,988	34,603	9,319
Total revenues	225,247	214,666	712,753	673,132
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	62,802	75,512	213,835	206,079
Impairment charges	14,441	19,438	49,870	22,711
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	10,193	11,120	38,475	31,504
General and administrative	15,733	22,842	58,122	78,987
Reimbursable tenant costs	21,077	16,495	65,609	45,810
Stock-based compensation expense	4,356	3,966	14,964	16,063
Property acquisition and other expenses	0	4,760	5,359	12,333
Restructuring and other compensation	0	0	11,925	0
Total operating expenses	136,472	159,066	477,169	429,926
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(44,349)	(49,683)	(139,496)	(145,325)
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	16,803	12,635	48,243	38,630
Other income and (expenses)	5,101	6,608	9,398	9,944
Total other income and expenses	(22,445)	(30,440)	(81,855)	(96,751)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(3,154)	(3,361)	4,538	(20,352)
Income before gain on sale of real estate	63,176	21,799	158,267	126,103
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	49,126	1,779	68,070	2,980
Net Income	112,302	23,578	226,337	129,083
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,359)	(1,833)	(6,294)	(7,874)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	110,943	21,745	220,043	121,209
Owned Real Estate
Owned Real Estate:
Lease revenues	163,786	164,741	506,358	487,480
Operating property revenues	8,524	8,107	23,696	23,645
Reimbursable tenant costs	6,537	5,340	19,237	17,409
Lease termination income and other	1,224	2,988	34,603	9,319
Total revenues	180,071	181,176	583,894	537,853
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	61,740	74,529	210,557	203,048
Impairment charges	14,441	19,438	49,870	22,711
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	10,193	11,120	38,475	31,504
General and administrative	7,453	10,239	25,653	37,124
Reimbursable tenant costs	6,537	5,340	19,237	17,409
Stock-based compensation expense	1,572	1,468	4,316	5,943
Property acquisition and other expenses	0	3,642	2,975	11,213
Restructuring and other compensation	0	0	4,413	0
Total operating expenses	101,936	125,776	355,496	328,952
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(44,349)	(49,683)	(139,496)	(145,325)
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	15,705	13,575	46,771	39,408
Other income and (expenses)	3,244	6,588	7,681	9,545
Total other income and expenses	(25,400)	(29,520)	(85,044)	(96,372)
Income before income taxes and gain on sale of real estate	52,735	25,880	143,354	112,529
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(530)	(5,247)	6,792	(7,820)
Income before gain on sale of real estate	52,205	20,633	150,146	104,709
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	49,126	1,779	68,070	2,980
Net Income	101,331	22,412	218,216	107,689
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,359)	(1,814)	(6,294)	(5,871)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 99,972	$ 20,598	$ 211,922	$ 101,818