CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS 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, 2020	$ 6,878,369	$ 6,876,713	$ 175	$ 8,925,365	$ (1,850,935)	$ 42,014	$ (239,906)	$ 1,656
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020			175,401,757
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net	457,200	457,200	$ 7	457,193
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net, shares			6,535,709
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(3,779)	(3,779)		(3,779)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			119,268
Shares issued under ATM Program, net	302,623	302,623	$ 4	302,619
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			4,225,624
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan	176	176		176
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			2,597
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	18,790	18,790		18,790
Deferral of vested shares, net				(7,044)		7,044
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(104)							(104)
Dividends declared	(579,769)	(579,769)		906	(581,427)	752
Net income	310,510	310,426			310,426			84
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(28,329)	(28,329)					(28,329)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	31,010	30,989					30,989	21
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	0
Ending equity balance at Sep. 30, 2021	7,386,697	7,385,040	$ 186	9,694,226	(2,121,936)	49,810	(237,246)	1,657
Ending equity balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2021			186,284,955
Beginning equity balance at Jun. 30, 2021	7,300,767	7,299,101	$ 184	9,542,171	(2,063,109)	49,815	(229,960)	1,666
Beginning equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2021			184,253,151
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net	147,693	147,693	$ 2	147,691
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net, shares			2,012,500
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(2)	(2)		(2)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			19,304
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	4,361	4,361		4,361
Deferral of vested shares, net				5		(5)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(48)							(48)
Dividends declared	(197,374)	(197,374)			(197,374)
Net income	138,586	138,547			138,547			39
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(20,400)	(20,400)					(20,400)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	13,114	13,114					13,114
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	0
Ending equity balance at Sep. 30, 2021	7,386,697	7,385,040	$ 186	9,694,226	(2,121,936)	49,810	(237,246)	1,657
Ending equity balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2021			186,284,955
Beginning equity balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 7,583,451	7,581,785	$ 190	9,977,686	(2,224,231)	49,810	(221,670)	1,666
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	190,013,751		190,013,751
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:18 – Global in connection with CPA:18 Merger	$ 1,205,750	1,205,750	$ 14	1,205,736
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:18 – Global in connection with CPA:18 Merger, shares			13,786,302
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net	97,455	97,455	$ 1	97,454
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net, shares			1,337,500
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(6,612)	(6,612)		(6,612)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			152,830
Shares issued under ATM Program, net	218,101	218,101	$ 3	218,098
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			2,740,295
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan	155	155		155
Shares issued upon purchases under employee share purchase plan, shares			2,040
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	23,102	23,102		23,102
Deferral of vested shares, net				(6,696)		6,696
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in connection with the CPA:18 Merger	14,367							14,367
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(176)							(176)
Dividends declared	(633,745)	(633,745)		1,380	(635,631)	506
Net income	388,979	389,601			389,601			(622)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(109,198)	(108,655)					(108,655)	(543)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	50,956	50,956					50,956
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	(18,688)	(18,688)					(18,688)
Ending equity balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 8,813,897	8,799,205	$ 208	11,510,303	(2,470,261)	57,012	(298,057)	14,692
Ending equity balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2022	208,032,718		208,032,718
Beginning equity balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 7,641,462	7,639,823	$ 193	10,201,614	(2,352,839)	57,012	(266,157)	1,639
Beginning equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2022			192,891,792
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:18 – Global in connection with CPA:18 Merger	1,205,750	1,205,750	$ 14	1,205,736
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:18 – Global in connection with CPA:18 Merger, shares			13,786,302
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net	97,455	97,455	$ 1	97,454
Shares issued under Equity Forwards, net, shares			1,337,500
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(12)	(12)		(12)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			17,124
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	5,511	5,511		5,511
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in connection with the CPA:18 Merger	14,367							14,367
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(111)							(111)
Dividends declared	(222,350)	(222,350)			(222,350)
Net income	104,268	104,928			104,928			(660)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(56,053)	(55,510)					(55,510)	(543)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	23,610	23,610					23,610
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	0
Ending equity balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 8,813,897	$ 8,799,205	$ 208	$ 11,510,303	$ (2,470,261)	$ 57,012	$ (298,057)	$ 14,692
Ending equity balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2022	208,032,718		208,032,718