Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property loan joint_venture shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) property loan joint_venture shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) reporting_unit property segment loan joint_venture shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) property loan joint_venture shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 10, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2013 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	$ (26,110,000)	$ (38,199,000)	$ (26,110,000)	$ (38,199,000)
Number of properties classified held for sale | property	17	2	17	2
Aggregate equity investments	$ 56,824,000	$ 98,053,000	$ 56,824,000	$ 98,053,000
Net loss			$ 2,361,000	(77,000)	$ 0
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit			2
Impairment of real estate			$ 91,755,000	$ 100,547,000
Properties impaired | property			202	16
Impairment charges to goodwill			$ (139,655,000)	$ (223,064,000)
Impairment of leasehold improvements and property and equipment			0	1
Restricted cash	$ 59,767,000	$ 62,651,000	$ 59,767,000	$ 62,651,000
Number of loans held for investment | loan	10	14	10	14
Reserve for loan loss	$ 15,300,000		$ 15,300,000	$ 0	0
Allowance for doubtful accounts	6,600,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 6,600,000	2,500,000
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Number of operating segments | segment			2
Deferred Rent, Derivative and Other Liabilities [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deferred rental income	67,200,000	57,800,000	$ 67,200,000	57,800,000
Convertible Debt [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	(19,327,000)	(24,665,000)	(19,327,000)	(24,665,000)
Convertible Debt [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt issued amount								$ 300,000,000.0
Convertible Debt [Member] | Original 2018 Notes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt issued amount							$ 10,000,000.0
Convertible Debt [Member] | Reopened 2018 Notes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt issued amount						$ 287,500,000.0
Convertible Debt [Member] | 2020 Notes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt issued amount						$ 402,500,000.0
Lender Reserves [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Restricted cash	47,900,000	36,900,000	47,900,000	36,900,000
Restricted Lockbox Accounts [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Restricted cash	11,900,000	25,800,000	11,900,000	25,800,000
Barclays Bank PLC [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		2,100,000,000.0		2,100,000,000.0
Extinguishment of Debt, Net [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Write off of deferred financing costs			(500,000)	(6,600,000)
Interest Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Write off of deferred financing costs			(64,200,000)
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reserves for uncollectible accounts	11,300,000	$ 13,100,000
REI Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate equity investments	$ 52,800,000		52,800,000
Impairment charges to goodwill			$ 0	0
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit			1
Impairment charges to goodwill			$ (139,655,000)	(223,064,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | REI Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit			1
Impairment of real estate			$ 91,755,000	100,547,000	3,346,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Impairment charges to goodwill			(139,700,000)	(223,100,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Cole Capital Segment [Member] | Contractual Rights [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Impairment charges to intangible assets			$ 73,700,000	$ 86,400,000
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures | joint_venture	3	6	3	6
Number of properties owned | property	3	6	3	6
Aggregate equity investments	$ 52,800,000	$ 94,200,000	$ 52,800,000	$ 94,200,000
Net loss			2,300,000	1,500,000
Managed REITs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate equity investments	4,100,000	3,900,000	4,100,000	3,900,000
Net loss			$ 46,000	(1,600,000)
Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease-up period			6 months
Length of time for properties more likely than not of being disposed			12 months
Minimum [Member] | In-Place Leases [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			2 years
Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease-up period			18 months
Length of time for properties more likely than not of being disposed			24 months
Maximum [Member] | In-Place Leases [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			20 years
Buildings [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation, estimated useful life			40 years
Building Fixtures and Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation, estimated useful life			5 years
Building Fixtures and Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation, estimated useful life			15 years
Computer Hardware and Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation, estimated useful life			5 years
Computer Hardware and Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation, estimated useful life			7 years
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Rent and Tenant Receivables and Other Assets, Net [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	(62,700,000)	(88,000,000)	$ (62,700,000)	(88,000,000)
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Deferred Rent, Derivative and Other Liabilities [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	(62,700,000)	(88,000,000)	(62,700,000)	(88,000,000)
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate equity investments	56,824,000	98,053,000	56,824,000	98,053,000
Net loss			2,361,000	(77,000)	0
Restricted cash	$ 59,767,000	$ 62,651,000	59,767,000	62,651,000
Reserve for loan loss			$ 15,300,000	$ 0	$ 0
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares) | shares	23,763,797	23,763,797	23,763,797	23,763,797
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares) | shares	23,763,797	23,763,797	23,763,797	23,763,797