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]
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)							(183,492)
Repurchases of common OP Units to settle tax obligation	$ (1,634)		(1,634)	(1,634)			$ (1,634)
Equity-based compensation, net (shares)							(386,705)
Equity-based compensation, net			10,189	10,189			$ 10,189
Tax shortfall from equity-based compensation	(629)		(629)	(629)			(629)
Distributions to Common OP Units and non-controlling interest holders	(16,879)		(141,326)	(127,716)			(124,447)	(3,269)	(13,610)
Distributions			(53,920)	(53,920)	$ (53,920)
Disposition of joint venture	6,339								6,339
Net loss	(131,261)		(131,261)	(132,458)			(128,963)	(3,495)	1,197
Other comprehensive loss	(12,863)		(12,863)	(12,863)			$ (12,534)	$ (329)
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2015					42,834,138	86,874	904,960,234	23,763,797
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2015			9,057,225	9,039,600	$ 943,067	$ 3,375	$ 7,899,149	$ 194,009	17,625
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]
Issuance of common units (shares)							69,000,000
Issuance of common units, net			702,482	702,482			$ 702,482
Conversion of Limited Partner' Common OP Units to General Partner's Common OP Units (shares)							15,450	(15,450)
Conversion of Limited Partners' Common OP Units to General Partner's Common OP Units			0	0			$ 159	$ (159)
Repurchases of Common OP Units to settle tax obligation (shares)		(424,726)					(424,726)
Repurchases of common OP Units to settle tax obligation	(4,148)		(4,148)	(4,148)			$ (4,148)
Equity-based compensation, net (shares)							708,701
Equity-based compensation, net			7,097	7,097			$ 7,097
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	675		675						675
Distributions to Common OP Units and non-controlling interest holders	(9,889)		(393,108)	(393,022)			(383,219)	(9,803)	(86)
Distributions			(53,919)	(53,919)	$ (53,811)	$ (108)
Net loss	(82,601)		(82,601)	(82,578)			(80,445)	(2,133)	(23)
Other comprehensive loss	$ (2,742)		(2,742)	(2,742)			$ (2,662)	$ (80)
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2016					42,834,138	86,874	974,183,819	23,748,347
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2016			$ 8,887,695	$ 8,885,272	$ 871,758	$ 3,207	$ 7,837,682	$ 172,625	$ 2,423