CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	974,183,819	904,884,394
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	974,183,819	904,884,394
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Preferred Units [Member]
General partners', units issued (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
General partners', units outstanding (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Limited partners', units issued (shares)	86,874	86,874
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares)	86,874	86,874
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
General partners', units issued (shares)	974,183,819	904,884,394
General partners', units outstanding (shares)	974,183,819	904,884,394
Limited partners', units issued (shares)	23,748,347	23,763,797
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares)	23,748,347	23,763,797