Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 313,971,000	$ 342,759,000
Direct financing lease income	569,000	741,000
Operating expense reimbursements	23,247,000	22,974,000
Total revenues	369,020,000	393,968,000
Acquisition related	242,000	2,182,000
Litigation and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries	(5,175,000)	16,423,000
Property operating	34,813,000	30,999,000
General and administrative	29,400,000	33,106,000
Depreciation and amortization	204,308,000	219,141,000
Impairment of real estate	160,517,000	0
Total operating expenses	432,173,000	303,882,000
Operating (loss) income	(63,153,000)	90,086,000
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	0	5,302,000
Other income, net	1,062,000	4,060,000
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(1,086,000)	(1,028,000)
Total other expenses, net	(70,046,000)	(87,337,000)
(Loss) income before taxes and real estate dispositions	(133,199,000)	2,749,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net	17,175,000	(31,368,000)
Loss before taxes	(116,024,000)	(28,619,000)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(56,000)	(2,074,000)
Net loss	(116,080,000)	(30,693,000)
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	8,068,000	2,031,000
Total Assets	16,843,612,000		$ 17,405,866,000
REI segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(1,400,000)	(1,900,000)
Cole Capital segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	1,300,000	(200,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | REI segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	313,971,000	342,759,000
Direct financing lease income	569,000	741,000
Operating expense reimbursements	23,247,000	22,974,000
Total revenues	337,787,000	366,474,000
Acquisition related	217,000	1,723,000
Litigation and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries	(5,175,000)	16,423,000
Property operating	34,813,000	30,999,000
General and administrative	12,228,000	15,370,000
Depreciation and amortization	195,991,000	210,788,000
Impairment of real estate	160,517,000	0
Total operating expenses	398,591,000	275,303,000
Operating (loss) income	(60,804,000)	91,171,000
Interest expense	(80,426,000)	(95,699,000)
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	0	5,302,000
Other income, net	568,000	2,841,000
Equity in income and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	10,404,000	28,000
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(1,086,000)	(1,028,000)
Total other expenses, net	(70,540,000)	(88,556,000)
(Loss) income before taxes and real estate dispositions	(131,344,000)	2,615,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net	17,175,000	(31,368,000)
Loss before taxes	(114,169,000)	(28,753,000)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(1,365,000)	(1,854,000)
Net loss	(115,534,000)	(30,607,000)
Total Assets	16,465,057,000		16,966,729,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Cole Capital segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	31,233,000	27,494,000
Acquisition related	25,000	459,000
General and administrative	17,172,000	17,736,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,317,000	8,353,000
Total operating expenses	33,582,000	28,579,000
Operating (loss) income	(2,349,000)	(1,085,000)
Total other expenses, net	494,000	1,219,000
Loss before taxes	(1,855,000)	134,000
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	1,309,000	(220,000)
Net loss	(546,000)	(86,000)
Offering-related fees and reimbursements	12,391,000	3,117,000
Transaction service fees and reimbursements	2,384,000	10,260,000
Management fees and reimbursements	16,458,000	14,117,000
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	8,068,000	$ 2,031,000
Total Assets	$ 378,555,000		$ 439,137,000