Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentAdvisoryManagementAndAdministrativeFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Advisory Fee Percentage

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_AdvisoryFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Distributions Of Available Cash and Deferred Revenue Earned [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_DistributionsOfAvailableCashandDeferredRevenueEarnedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Other Transactions With Affiliates [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_OtherTransactionsWithAffiliatesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of interest owned in entities and jointly-controlled tenancy-in-common interests in properties.

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_OwnershipInterestInJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The maximum percentage of available cash generated from operations, excluding capital proceeds, as reduced by operating expenses and debt service, excluding prepayments and balloon payments, of the operating partnership that is paid to the advisor for service fees.

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_PercentageOfAvailableCashDistributionToAdvisor
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of fees related to certain personnel services under the advisory agreement that the advisor must pay to the subadvisor.

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_PercentageOfFeesEarnedByAdvisorPaidToSubadvisor
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage guideline for when the advisor is required to reimburse the amount of operating expenses that exceeds the greater of the percentages for average invested assets or adjusted net income.

No definition available.

Name:	wpc_PercentageOfOperatingExpensesReimbursements
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wpc_CareyCreditIncomeFundMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wpc_CwiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wpc_CareyEuropeanStudentHousingFundIL.P.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wpc_CareyWatermarkIncorporatedTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	wpc_RelatedPartyFeesBasisAxis=wpc_GrossProceedsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: