Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 303,383	$ 333,766	$ 928,706	$ 1,017,708
Direct financing lease income	494	659	1,598	2,097
Operating expense reimbursements	27,969	22,983	77,862	71,269
Total revenues	362,915	384,954	1,102,954	1,172,643
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	5,897	3,896	20,940	9,637
Acquisition related	90	1,764	373	5,509
Litigation and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries	4,630	8,032	2,372	41,319
Property operating	34,820	31,950	107,832	95,547
General and administrative	29,761	32,842	92,255	99,906
Depreciation and amortization	195,173	208,542	596,826	645,196
Impairment of real estate	6,872	0	176,214	85,341
Total operating expenses	277,243	287,026	996,812	982,455
Operating income	85,672	97,928	106,142	190,188
Interest expense	(79,869)	(89,530)	(242,763)	(275,801)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(2,003)	0	(1,751)	5,302
Other income, net	1,744	2,368	4,022	10,255
Equity in income and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	212	6,837	10,686	8,340
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,023)	(1,420)	(3,286)	(2,137)
Total other expenses, net	(81,939)	(81,745)	(233,092)	(254,041)
Income (loss) before taxes and real estate dispositions	3,733	16,183	(126,950)	(63,853)
Income (loss) before taxes	31,844	9,641	(81,227)	(126,437)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(1,598)	(1,500)	(1,374)	(4,824)
Net income (loss)	30,246	8,141	(82,601)	(131,261)
Total Assets	16,057,820		16,057,820		$ 17,405,866
REI segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	303,383	333,766	928,706	1,017,708
Direct financing lease income	494	659	1,598	2,097
Operating expense reimbursements	27,969	22,983	77,862	71,269
Total revenues	331,846	357,408	1,008,166	1,091,074
Acquisition related	90	1,690	334	4,976
Litigation and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries	4,630	8,032	2,372	41,319
Property operating	34,820	31,950	107,832	95,547
General and administrative	12,069	15,848	37,998	48,045
Depreciation and amortization	187,897	200,158	574,124	620,068
Impairment of real estate	6,872	0	176,214	85,341
Total operating expenses	246,378	257,678	898,874	895,296
Operating income	85,468	99,730	109,292	195,778
Interest expense	(79,869)	(89,530)	(242,763)	(275,801)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(2,003)	0	(1,751)	5,302
Other income, net	1,649	1,903	3,433	8,179
Equity in income and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	212	6,837	10,686	8,340
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,023)	(1,420)	(3,286)	(2,137)
Total other expenses, net	(82,034)	(82,210)	(233,681)	(256,117)
Income (loss) before taxes and real estate dispositions	3,434	17,520	(124,389)	(60,339)
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net	28,111	(6,542)	45,723	(62,584)
Income (loss) before taxes	31,545	10,978	(78,666)	(122,923)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(1,539)	(2,238)	(4,695)	(7,211)
Net income (loss)	30,006	8,740	(83,361)	(130,134)
Total Assets	15,668,974		15,668,974		16,966,729
Cole Capital segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Offering-related fees and reimbursements	9,545	5,850	32,850	14,483
Transaction service fees and reimbursements	3,779	7,400	10,639	24,696
Management fees and reimbursements	17,745	14,296	51,299	42,390
Total revenues	31,069	27,546	94,788	81,569
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	5,897	3,896	20,940	9,637
Acquisition related	0	74	39	533
General and administrative	17,692	16,994	54,257	51,861
Depreciation and amortization	7,276	8,384	22,702	25,128
Total operating expenses	30,865	29,348	97,938	87,159
Operating income	204	(1,802)	(3,150)	(5,590)
Total other expenses, net	95	465	589	2,076
Income (loss) before taxes	299	(1,337)	(2,561)	(3,514)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(59)	738	3,321	2,387
Net income (loss)	240	$ (599)	760	$ (1,127)
Total Assets	$ 388,846		$ 388,846		$ 439,137