Net Loss Per Share/Unit (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Operating Partnership) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to the Operating Partnership	$ 3,146	$ (106,522)	$ (109,940)	$ (136,492)
Less: dividends to preferred units and participating securities	$ 18,183	$ 17,973	$ 36,281	$ 35,951
Weighted average number of common units outstanding - basic and diluted (shares)	904,107,378	903,339,143	903,966,552	903,168,654
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to the Operating Partnership	$ 3,229	$ (109,322)	$ (112,812)	$ (140,195)
Less: dividends to preferred units and participating securities	18,183	17,973	36,281	35,951
Net loss attributable to common stockholders / unitholders	$ (14,954)	$ (127,295)	$ (149,093)	$ (176,146)
Weighted average number of common units outstanding - basic and diluted (shares)	927,871,175	927,102,940	927,730,349	926,932,451
Basic and diluted net loss per unit attributable to common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.19)