CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (323,492)	$ (1,010,912)	$ (507,815)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	0	92,884	107,771
Depreciation and amortization	866,549	1,007,164	238,307
Loss on real estate assets and interest in joint venture, net	65,582	277,031	0
Impairments	305,094	409,991	3,346
Reserve for loan loss	15,300	0	0
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures	14,500	31,861	100,261
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(2,361)	77	0
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	11,352	8,335	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments	1,460	10,570	(1,739)
(Gain) loss on investments securities	(65)	(6,357)	2,206
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(4,812)	(14,012)	0
Loss on extinguishment of Series C Stock	0	0	13,749
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	0	(15,300)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,035	1,597	2,505
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(62,356)	(97,125)	(19,851)
Due from affiliates	25,489	(32,821)	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(999)	(16,279)	20,789
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(45,934)	(99,930)	8,555
Due to affiliates	(329)	(43,887)	43,834
Net cash provided by operating activities	867,013	502,887	11,918
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate and other assets	(36,319)	(3,539,906)	(3,520,412)
Acquisition of real estate businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(756,232)	(878,898)
Investment in direct financing leases	0	0	(68,617)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(18,569)	(34,687)	(9,755)
Real estate developments	(57,682)	(72,515)	0
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,921	77,614	442
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(2,500)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint ventures	1,009,107	1,598,767	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,911)	(11,890)	(543)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	392	159,752	119,542
Deposits for real estate assets	(16,542)	(265,372)	(101,887)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	48,702	347,971	0
Purchases of investment securities	0	0	(81,590)
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(10,000)	(125,000)	0
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	10,000	81,100	0
Investment in loans held for investment	0	(2,952)	0
Change in restricted cash	(1,504)	(8,606)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	932,595	(2,554,456)	(4,541,718)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,445	1,010,219	6,924
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including extinguishment costs	(184,504)	(1,255,506)	(15,079)
Proceeds from credit facilities	60,000	5,824,000	2,678,800
Payments on credit facilities	(1,784,000)	(5,918,800)	(954,604)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	0	2,545,760	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(2,436)	(116,373)	(101,196)
Repurchases of common stock / units	(2,227)	(7,690)	(359,193)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt	0	0	967,786
Proceeds from issuances of common stock / units, net of offering costs	0	1,595,045	1,993,159
Cash payment on settlement of Series C Stock	0	0	(441,353)
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock / Units	0	(316,126)	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	982	30,861
Distributions paid	(235,494)	(950,414)	(243,116)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	0	4,458	0
Payments from affiliates, net	0	0	(376)
Change in restricted cash	0	0	(5,654)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,147,216)	2,415,555	4,289,950
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(347,608)	363,986	(239,850)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	416,711	52,725	292,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	69,103	416,711	52,725
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	(323,492)	(1,010,912)	(507,815)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	0	92,884	107,771
Depreciation and amortization	866,549	1,007,164	238,307
Loss on real estate assets and interest in joint venture, net	65,582	277,031	0
Impairments	305,094	409,991	3,346
Reserve for loan loss	15,300	0	0
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures	14,500	31,861	100,261
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(2,361)	77	0
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	11,352	8,335	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments	1,460	10,570	(1,739)
(Gain) loss on investments securities	(65)	(6,357)	2,206
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(4,812)	(14,012)	0
Loss on extinguishment of Series C Stock	0	0	13,749
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	0	(15,300)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,035	1,597	2,505
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(62,356)	(97,125)	(19,851)
Due from affiliates	25,489	(32,821)	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(999)	(16,279)	20,789
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(45,934)	(99,930)	8,555
Due to affiliates	(329)	(43,887)	43,834
Net cash provided by operating activities	867,013	502,887	11,918
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate and other assets	(36,319)	(3,539,906)	(3,520,412)
Acquisition of real estate businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(756,232)	(878,898)
Investment in direct financing leases	0	0	(68,617)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(18,569)	(34,687)	(9,755)
Real estate developments	(57,682)	(72,515)	0
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,921	77,614	442
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(2,500)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint ventures	1,009,107	1,598,767	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,911)	(11,890)	(543)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	392	159,752	119,542
Deposits for real estate assets	(16,542)	(265,372)	(101,887)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	48,702	347,971	0
Purchases of investment securities	0	0	(81,590)
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(10,000)	(125,000)	0
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	10,000	81,100	0
Investment in loans held for investment	0	(2,952)	0
Change in restricted cash	(1,504)	(8,606)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	932,595	(2,554,456)	(4,541,718)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,445	1,010,219	6,924
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including extinguishment costs	(184,504)	(1,255,506)	(15,079)
Proceeds from credit facilities	60,000	5,824,000	2,678,800
Payments on credit facilities	(1,784,000)	(5,918,800)	(954,604)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	0	2,545,760	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(2,436)	(116,373)	(101,196)
Repurchases of common stock / units	(2,227)	(7,690)	(359,193)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt	0	0	967,786
Proceeds from issuances of common stock / units, net of offering costs	0	1,595,045	1,993,159
Cash payment on settlement of Series C Stock	0	0	(441,353)
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock / Units	0	(316,126)	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	982	30,861
Distributions paid	(235,494)	(950,414)	(243,116)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	0	4,458	0
Payments from affiliates, net	0	0	(376)
Change in restricted cash	0	0	(5,654)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,147,216)	2,415,555	4,289,950
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(347,608)	363,986	(239,850)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	416,711	52,725	292,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	69,103	416,711	52,725
Series C Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock / units	0	0	445,000
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock / Units			(441,400)
Series C Stock [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock / units	0	0	445,000
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock / units	0	0	287,991
Series D Preferred Stock [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock / units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 287,991