Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total W.P. Carey Stockholders	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning equity balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 3,411,385	$ 3,192,261	$ 107	$ 4,433,573	$ (1,052,064)	$ 46,656	$ (236,011)	$ 219,124
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017			106,922,616
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, value	(13,565)	(13,565)	$ 0	(13,565)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			276,000
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, value	125	125		125
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			2,071
Deferral of vested shares, net				10,649		(10,649)
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	11,917	11,917		11,917
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	71							71
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,773)							(9,773)
Dividends declared	(220,398)	(220,398)		675	(221,073)
Net Income	147,490	140,955			140,955			6,535
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(21,299)	(17,447)					(17,447)	(3,852)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	5,681	5,686					5,686	(5)
Unrealized loss on investments	370	370					370
Ending equity balance at Jun. 30, 2018	3,312,004	3,099,904	$ 107	4,443,374	(1,132,182)	36,007	(247,402)	212,100
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018			107,200,687
Beginning equity balance at Mar. 31, 2018	3,369,505	3,149,034	$ 107	4,439,433	(1,097,415)	36,147	(229,238)	220,471
Beginning equity balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2018			107,194,440
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, value	(22)	(22)	$ 0	(22)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			4,176
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, value	125	125		125
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			2,071
Deferral of vested shares, net				140		(140)
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	3,698	3,698		3,698
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	71							71
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,549)							(4,549)
Dividends declared	(110,448)	(110,448)			(110,448)
Net Income	79,424	75,681			75,681			3,743
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(39,815)	(32,181)					(32,181)	(7,634)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	14,073	14,075					14,075	(2)
Unrealized loss on investments	(58)	(58)					(58)
Ending equity balance at Jun. 30, 2018	3,312,004	3,099,904	$ 107	4,443,374	(1,132,182)	36,007	(247,402)	212,100
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018			107,200,687
Beginning equity balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 6,830,055	6,824,278	$ 165	8,187,335	(1,143,992)	35,766	(254,996)	5,777
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	165,279,642		165,279,642
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, value	$ 391,904	391,904	$ 5	391,899
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			5,169,840
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, value	(15,742)	(15,742)	$ 1	(15,743)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			305,508
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, value	113	113		113
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			1,517
Deferral of vested shares, net	0			(1,445)		1,445
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	9,101	9,101		9,101
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	849							849
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(622)							(622)
Dividends declared	(353,960)	(353,960)		4,985	(358,997)	52
Net Income	134,917	134,532			134,532			385
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(4,360)	(4,360)					(4,360)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(1,457)	(1,457)					(1,457)
Unrealized loss on investments	(4)	(4)					(4)
Ending equity balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 6,990,794	6,984,405	$ 171	8,576,245	(1,368,457)	37,263	(260,817)	6,389
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2019	170,756,507		170,756,507
Beginning equity balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 7,017,729	7,011,297	$ 170	8,483,301	(1,256,754)	37,263	(252,683)	6,432
Beginning equity balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019			169,636,526
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, value	88,073	88,073	$ 1	88,072
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			1,116,217
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, value	(177)	(177)		(177)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			2,247
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, value	113	113		113
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			1,517
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	4,936	4,936		4,936
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(126)							(126)
Dividends declared	(177,741)	(177,741)			(177,741)
Net Income	66,121	66,038			66,038			83
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(4,187)	(4,187)					(4,187)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(3,406)	(3,406)					(3,406)
Unrealized loss on investments	(541)	(541)					(541)
Ending equity balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 6,990,794	$ 6,984,405	$ 171	$ 8,576,245	$ (1,368,457)	$ 37,263	$ (260,817)	$ 6,389
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2019	170,756,507		170,756,507