Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 418,807		$ 457,118		$ 382,178		$ 321,154		$ 136,226		$ 95,255		$ 54,945		$ 42,897		$ 1,579,257	$ 329,323	$ 67,207
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	(1,010,912)	(507,781)	(41,492)
Net loss from discontinued operations																	0	(34)	(745)
Net loss attributable to the Company	(350,623)		(280,398)		(54,720)		(291,444)		(197,815)		(80,201)		(69,603)		(143,880)		(977,185)	(491,499)	(41,652)
Less: dividends declared on preferred shares and RSUs	19,691		37,643		23,291		23,432		3,006		199		233		193		819,377	259,468	75,416
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(370,314)		(318,041)		(78,011)		(314,876)		(200,821)		(80,400)		(69,836)		(144,073)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	902,528,464		902,096,102		815,406,408		547,470,457		231,969,433		221,707,934		198,956,355		167,847,516
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	[1]	$ (0.35)	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]	$ (0.58)	[1]	$ (0.87)	[1]	$ (0.36)	[1]	$ (0.35)	[1]	$ (0.86)	[1]	$ (1.36)	$ (2.41)	$ (0.41)
ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	418,807		457,118		382,178		321,154		136,226		95,255		54,945		42,235		1,579,257	329,323	67,207
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									(206,083)		(83,450)		(72,311)		(145,937)		(1,010,912)	(507,781)	(41,492)
Net loss from discontinued operations									(150)		96		36		(2)		0	(34)	(745)
Net loss attributable to the Company	(360,038)		(288,202)		(56,870)		(305,648)		(206,233)		(83,354)		(72,275)		(145,939)		(1,010,758)	(507,815)	(42,237)
Less: dividends declared on preferred shares and RSUs	19,691		37,643		23,291		23,432		3,006		199		233		193
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (379,729)		$ (325,845)		$ (80,161)		$ (329,080)		$ (209,239)		$ (83,553)		$ (72,508)		$ (146,132)
Weighted Average Number of Limited Partnership and General Partnership Unit Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	926,999,843		926,801,361		840,184,663		572,457,009		242,467,964		231,682,236		209,408,106		172,351,898
Net Income (Loss), Per Outstanding Limited Partnership and General Partnership Unit, Basic and Diluted, Net of Tax	$ (0.41)	[2]	$ (0.35)	[2]	$ (0.10)	[2]	$ (0.57)	[2]	$ (0.86)	[2]	$ (0.36)	[2]	$ (0.35)	[2]	$ (0.85)	[2]	$ (1.36)	$ (2.39)	$ (0.41)

[1] The sum of the quarterly net loss per share amounts do not agree to the full year net loss per share amounts. We calculate net loss per share based on the weighted-average number of outstanding shares during the reporting period. The average number of shares fluctuates throughout the year and can therefore produce a full year result that does not agree to the sum of the individual quarters.

[2] The sum of the quarterly net loss per unit amounts do not agree to the full year net loss per unit amounts. We calculate net loss per unit based on the weighted-average number of outstanding unit during the reporting period. The average number of units fluctuates throughout the year and can therefore produce a full year result that does not agree to the sum of the individual quarters.