Document and Entity Information - shares shares in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Entity Registrant Name	Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT I, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001476204
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		181.0