Organization	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Organization American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (the “Company”), incorporated on December 2, 2010, is a Maryland corporation that qualifies as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. On September 6, 2011, the Company sold in an initial public offering (the "IPO") a total of 5.6 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of $66.0 million. The shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ARCP” on September 7, 2011. On November 2, 2011, the Company sold in a follow-on offering an additional 1.5 million shares for net proceeds of $14.4 million. In addition, on November 2, 2011, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 0.1 million shares, which closed on November 7, 2011 for net proceeds of $0.7 million. The Company was formed to primarily own and acquire single-tenant, freestanding commercial real estate that is net leased on a medium-term basis, primarily to investment grade credit rated and other creditworthy tenants. The Company considers properties that are net leased on a “medium-term basis” to mean properties originally leased long-term (ten years or longer) that currently have net leases with remaining lease terms of generally three to eight years, on average. Substantially all of the Company's business is conducted through ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), a Delaware limited partnership. The Company is the sole general partner and holder of 95.9% of the interest in the OP. ARC Real Estate Partners, LLC (the "Contributor") is the sole limited partner and owner of 4.1% of the interest in the OP. After holding units of limited partner interests in the OP (“OP Units”) for a period of one year, holders of OP Units have the right to convert OP Units for the cash value of a corresponding number of shares of the Company's common stock or, at the option of the OP, a corresponding number of shares of the Company's common stock, as allowed by the limited partnership agreement of the OP. The remaining rights of the holders of OP Units are limited, however, and do not include the ability to replace the general partner or to approve the sale, purchase or refinancing of the OP’s assets. The Company, externally managed with no employees, has retained ARC Properties Advisors, LLC (the "Manager"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AR Capital, LLC (formerly American Realty Capital II, LLC) (the “Sponsor”), to manage its affairs on a day to day basis. These affiliated parties, as well as Realty Capital Securities, LLC ("RCS"), a broker dealer wholly owned by the Sponsor, have received compensation for services provided to the Company, and will continue to receive compensation for providing on-going investment oversight and management of the Company, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into by and between the Company and respective affiliated entity.

Organization

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (the “Company”), incorporated on December 2, 2010, is a Maryland corporation that qualifies as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. On September 6, 2011, the Company sold in an initial public offering (the "IPO") a total of 5.6 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of $66.0 million. The shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ARCP” on September 7, 2011.

On November 2, 2011, the Company sold in a follow-on offering an additional 1.5 million shares for net proceeds of $14.4 million. In addition, on November 2, 2011, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 0.1 million shares, which closed on November 7, 2011 for net proceeds of $0.7 million.

The Company was formed to primarily own and acquire single-tenant, freestanding commercial real estate that is net leased on a medium-term basis, primarily to investment grade credit rated and other creditworthy tenants. The Company considers properties that are net leased on a “medium-term basis” to mean properties originally leased long-term (ten years or longer) that currently have net leases with remaining lease terms of generally three to eight years, on average.

Substantially all of the Company's business is conducted through ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), a Delaware limited partnership. The Company is the sole general partner and holder of 95.9% of the interest in the OP. ARC Real Estate Partners, LLC (the "Contributor") is the sole limited partner and owner of 4.1% of the interest in the OP. After holding units of limited partner interests in the OP (“OP Units”) for a period of one year, holders of OP Units have the right to convert OP Units for the cash value of a corresponding number of shares of the Company's common stock or, at the option of the OP, a corresponding number of shares of the Company's common stock, as allowed by the limited partnership agreement of the OP. The remaining rights of the holders of OP Units are limited, however, and do not include the ability to replace the general partner or to approve the sale, purchase or refinancing of the OP’s assets.

The Company, externally managed with no employees, has retained ARC Properties Advisors, LLC (the "Manager"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AR Capital, LLC (formerly American Realty Capital II, LLC) (the “Sponsor”), to manage its affairs on a day to day basis. These affiliated parties, as well as Realty Capital Securities, LLC ("RCS"), a broker dealer wholly owned by the Sponsor, have received compensation for services provided to the Company, and will continue to receive compensation for providing on-going investment oversight and management of the Company, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into by and between the Company and respective affiliated entity.