Preferred and Common Stock (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Oct. 22, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	May 28, 2014	Nov. 08, 2013	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 09, 2013	Aug. 20, 2013	Aug. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net offering costs					$ 1,593,462,000	[1]	$ 1,810,042,000	[1]
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net, pre tax	14,207,000	[1]	(31,174,000)	[1]	7,086,000	[1]	(31,179,000)	[1]
Conversion of OP units to series F preferred stock, shares					500,000
Common stock, shares authorized																1,500,000,000
Maximum amount of offering from universal shelf registration statement																		500,000,000
Authorized annual dividends, per share					$ 1.00				$ 1.00		$ 0.94
Authorized annual dividends increase (decrease), per share									$ 0.06
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount																	250,000,000
ARCT III [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares												140,700,000
Business combination, acquiree shares exchanged for cash												29,200,000
Percentage of shares outstanding												16.50%
Business combination, consideration transferred, amount per share												$ 12.00
Business combination, acquiree shares equivalent of acquirer shares												27,700,000
Business combination, acquiree shares exchanged for acquirer shares												148,100,000
Resale Registration [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized	1,882,248				1,882,248				1,882,248
At the Market Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Maximum amount of offering from universal shelf registration statement	60,000,000				60,000,000				60,000,000
Public Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net offering costs													1,590,000,000
Structuring Fee													2,000,000
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, issued														15,100,000
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net offering costs														186,000,000
Shares issued (in shares)					662,305,318	[1],[2]	63,056,895	[1]
Common Stock [Member] | ARCT IV [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares															36,900,000
Common Stock [Member] | Universal Shelf Registration [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares issued (in shares)					2,100,000
Common Stock [Member] | Public Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Share price													$ 12.00
Shares issued (in shares)													138,000,000
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares															600,000
Business combination, consideration transferred, amount per share															9.00
Series D preferred stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, issued	21,735,008	[1]			21,735,008	[1]			21,735,008	[1]				21,700,000					21,735,008	[1]
Proceeds from issuances of preferred shares														288,000,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage														5.81%
Share price														$ 13.59
Temporary equity, dividend rate, per-dollar amount														$ 0.79
Temporary equity, liquidation preference per share														$ 13.59
Temporary equity, liquidation preference, premium percentage														20.00%
Temporary equity, redemption, liquidation preference, percentage														102.00%
Temporary equity, redemption, value weighted average price, percentage														102.00%
Temporary equity, conversion, value weighted average price discount, percentage														2.00%
Number of trading days prior to the conversion election date														10 days
Temporary equity, conversion, discount on closing price, percentage														2.00%
Temporary equity, redemption price per share														$ 13.59
Temporary equity, conversion, volume weighted average price, percent														102.00%
Embedded derivative, fair value of embedded derivative, net	11,500,000				11,500,000				11,500,000					18,700,000					16,700,000
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net, pre tax					5,200,000
Preferred stock, fair value	$ 269,299,000	[1]			$ 269,299,000	[1]			$ 269,299,000	[1]				$ 269,300,000					$ 269,299,000	[1]
Temporary equity, shares authorized	21,735,008	[1]			21,735,008	[1]			21,735,008	[1]									21,735,008	[1]
Series F Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, issued	42,700,000				42,700,000				42,700,000
Preferred stock, outstanding	42,700,000				42,700,000				42,700,000
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Preferred stock, dividend rate, per-dollar-amount					$ 1.675
Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage															6.70%
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares															42,200,000
Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV [Member] | American Realty Capital Trust IV, Operating Partnership [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares															700,000
Series F OP Units [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, issued	200,000				200,000				200,000
Preferred stock, outstanding	200,000				200,000				200,000

[1] For discussion on the restatement adjustments, see Note 2 - Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements.

[2] Includes $2.2 million to affiliates of the Former Manager (as defined in Note 1) for the six months ended June 30, 2014.