Cover - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 24, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-13779
Entity Registrant Name	W. P. Carey Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	45-4549771
Entity Address, Street Address	50 Rockefeller Plaza
Entity Address, City	New York,
Entity Address, State	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10020
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	492-1100
Title of each class	Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value
Trading Symbol	WPC
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		173,907,867
Entity Central Index Key	0001025378
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31