Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Owned Real Estate:
Lease revenues	$ 663,463	$ 656,956	$ 573,829
Lease termination income and other	35,696	25,145	17,767
Operating property revenues	30,767	30,515	28,925
Reimbursable tenant costs	25,438	22,832	24,862
Total real estate revenue	755,364	735,448	645,383
Investment Management:
Reimbursable costs from affiliates	66,433	55,837	130,212
Asset management revenue	61,971	49,984	38,063
Structuring revenue	47,328	92,117	71,256
Dealer manager fees	8,002	4,794	23,532
Other advisory revenue	2,435	203	0
Revenue from the Managed Programs	186,169	202,935	263,063
Total revenues	941,533	938,383	908,446
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	276,510	280,315	237,123
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	91,871	78,669	155,074
General and administrative	82,352	103,172	91,588
Impairment charges	59,303	29,906	23,067
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	49,431	52,199	37,725
Stock-based compensation expense	18,015	21,626	31,075
Subadvisor fees	14,141	11,303	5,501
Dealer manager fees and expenses	12,808	11,403	21,760
Restructuring and other compensation	11,925	0	0
Merger, property acquisition, and other expenses	5,377	(7,764)	34,465
Total operating expenses	621,733	580,829	637,378
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(183,409)	(194,326)	(178,122)
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	64,719	51,020	44,116
Other income and (expenses)	5,667	2,113	(14,230)
Gain on change in control of interests	0	0	105,947
Total other income and expenses	(113,023)	(141,193)	(42,289)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and gain on sale of real estate	206,777	216,361	228,779
Provision for income taxes	(3,288)	(37,621)	(17,609)
Income from continuing operations before gain on sale of real estate	203,489	178,740	211,170
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	33,318
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	71,318	6,487	1,581
Net Income	274,807	185,227	246,069
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,060)	(12,969)	(6,385)
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	142
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 267,747	$ 172,258	$ 239,826
Basic Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	$ 2.50	$ 1.62	$ 2.08
Income from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.34
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	2.50	1.62	2.42
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	2.49	1.61	2.06
Income from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	0.33
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey (usd per share)	$ 2.49	$ 1.61	$ 2.39
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
Basic, (in shares)	106,743,012	105,675,692	98,764,164
Diluted (in shares)	107,073,203	106,507,652	99,827,356
Amounts Attributable to W. P. Carey
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 267,747	$ 172,258	$ 206,329
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	33,497
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 267,747	$ 172,258	$ 239,826