Debt - Corporate Bonds Narrative (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Jul. 05, 2016	Feb. 06, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 02, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net			$ (771,000)	$ 4,812,000	$ (21,869,000)
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 2,250,000,000	2,550,000,000
Maximum limitation on incurrence of total debt (percent)			65.00%
Maximum limitation on incurrence of secured debt (percent)			40.00%
Minimum debt service coverage ratio			0.015
Minimum unencumbered asset value (percent)			150.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net			$ (771,000)	$ 4,812,000	$ (21,869,000)
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 2,250,000,000
Interest rate			4.056%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | 2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 400,000,000			$ 400,000,000
Interest rate			4.125%			4.125%
Maximum number of days prior to maturity			30 days
Redemption price, percentage of principal			100.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | 2026 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 600,000,000			$ 600,000,000
Interest rate			4.875%			4.875%
Maximum number of days prior to maturity			90 days
Redemption price, percentage of principal			100.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | 2017 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding	$ 0	$ 2,550,000,000
Interest rate		2.00%
Aggregate principal amount redeemed		$ 1,300,000,000
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	$ (13,200,000)
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | 2019 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 750,000,000
Interest rate			3.00%
Maximum number of days prior to maturity			30 days
Redemption price, percentage of principal			100.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | 2024 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding			$ 500,000,000
Interest rate			4.60%
Maximum number of days prior to maturity			90 days
Redemption price, percentage of principal			100.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 2019 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding		$ 750,000,000
Interest rate		3.00%
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 2024 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate balance outstanding		$ 500,000,000
Interest rate		4.60%