CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - OP - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	General Partner [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Total Partners' Capital [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Preferred Units [Member] General Partner [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Preferred Units [Member] Limited Partner [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Common Units [Member] General Partner [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Common Units [Member] Limited Partner [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] General Partner [Member]
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014					42,834,138	86,874	905,530,431	23,763,797
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014			$ 9,382,330	$ 9,358,631	$ 996,987	$ 3,375	$ 8,157,167	$ 201,102	$ 23,699
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common OP Units to settle tax obligation (shares)							(132,826)
Repurchases of common OP units to settle tax obligation	$ (1,207)		(1,207)	(1,207)			$ (1,207)
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures (shares)							(262,886)
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures			818	818			$ 818
Excess tax benefit	(510)		(510)	(510)			(510)
Distributions to Common OP Units and non-controlling interest holders	(464)		(469)	(5)			(5)		(464)
Distributions to Preferred OP Units			(17,973)	(17,973)	$ (17,973)
Net loss	(30,693)		(30,693)	(30,873)			(29,970)	(903)		$ 180
Other comprehensive loss	(6,864)		(6,864)	(6,864)			$ (6,657)	$ (207)
Ending balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2015					42,834,138	86,874	905,134,719	23,763,797
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2015			9,325,432	9,302,017	$ 979,014	$ 3,375	$ 8,119,636	$ 199,992	23,415
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015					42,834,138	86,874	904,884,394	23,763,797
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015			8,713,959	8,712,102	$ 925,569	$ 3,315	$ 7,598,418	$ 184,800	1,857
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of Common OP Units to settle tax obligation (shares)		(127,741)					(127,741)
Repurchases of common OP units to settle tax obligation	(1,024)		(1,024)	(1,024)			$ (1,024)
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures (shares)							712
Equity-based compensation, net of forfeitures			1,730	1,730			$ 1,730
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	675		675						675
Distributions to Common OP Units and non-controlling interest holders	(3,299)		(127,709)	(127,679)			(124,410)	(3,269)	(30)
Distributions to Preferred OP Units			(17,973)	(17,973)	$ (17,937)	$ (36)
Net loss	(116,080)		(116,080)	(116,041)			(113,086)	(2,955)		$ (39)
Other comprehensive loss	$ (9,564)		(9,564)	(9,564)			$ (9,320)	$ (244)
Ending balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2016					42,834,138	86,874	904,757,365	23,763,797
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2016			$ 8,444,014	$ 8,441,551	$ 907,632	$ 3,279	$ 7,352,308	$ 178,332	$ 2,463