Segment Reporting - Income From Real Estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 308,999	$ 298,323
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	116,194	112,379
Impairment charges	19,420	0
General and administrative	20,745	21,285
Reimbursable tenant costs	13,175	13,171
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	10,075	9,912
Operating property expenses	5,223	10,594
Stock-based compensation expense	2,661	4,165
Merger and other expenses	187	146
Total operating expenses	192,987	177,722
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(52,540)	(61,313)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	11,751	933
Other gains and (losses)	(4,423)	955
Equity in (losses) earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	(45,790)	5,491
Total other income and expenses	(91,002)	(53,934)
Income before income taxes	25,010	66,667
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	41,692	2,129
Net Income	66,702	68,796
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(612)	(302)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	66,090	68,494
Real Estate
Revenues
Lease revenues	282,110	262,939
Lease termination income and other	6,509	3,270
Gross contract revenue	5,967	15,996
Revenues	294,586	282,205
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	115,207	111,413
Impairment charges	19,420	0
General and administrative	14,922	15,188
Reimbursable tenant costs	13,175	13,171
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	10,075	9,912
Operating property expenses	5,223	10,594
Stock-based compensation expense	1,970	2,800
Merger and other expenses	(132)	146
Total operating expenses	179,860	163,224
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(52,540)	(61,313)
Gain on sale of real estate, net	11,751	933
Other gains and (losses)	(5,776)	970
Equity in (losses) earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	1,565	(78)
Total other income and expenses	(45,000)	(59,488)
Income before income taxes	69,726	59,493
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	31,800	(6,159)
Net Income	101,526	53,334
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(612)	74
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 100,914	$ 53,408