Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Investments in real estate:
Real estates, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	$ 2,360,786,000	$ 646,482,000
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	110,109,000	109,875,000
Accumulated depreciation attributable to consolidated VIEs	126,166,000	135,175,000
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to consolidated VIEs	236,744,000	29,297,000
Intangible assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs)	753,668,000	62,350,000
Other Assets attributable to consolidated VIEs	130,506,000	51,069,000
Liabilities:
Non-recourse and limited-recourse debt attributable to consolidated VIEs	1,717,720,000	356,209,000
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	275,714,000	82,055,000
W. P. Carey stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, per share value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Treasury stock, cost	561,418	0
Variable Interest Entity
Investments in real estate:
Real estates, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	48,893,000	41,032,000
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	0	26,318,000
Accumulated depreciation attributable to consolidated VIEs	14,415,000	22,350,000
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to consolidated VIEs	241,000	230,000
Intangible assets, net (inclusive of amounts attributable to consolidated VIEs)	565,000
Other Assets attributable to consolidated VIEs	2,568,000	2,773,000
Liabilities:
Non-recourse and limited-recourse debt attributable to consolidated VIEs	18,175,000	14,261,000
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	$ 1,998,000	$ 1,651,000
Common Stock No Par Value
W. P. Carey stockholders' equity:
Common stock, per share value	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued	0	39,729,018
Common stock, outstanding	0	39,729,018
Common Stock
W. P. Carey stockholders' equity:
Common stock, per share value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, authorized	450,000,000	450,000,000
Common stock, issued	68,566,888	0
Common stock, outstanding	68,566,888	0