CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (200,824)	$ (323,492)	$ (1,010,912)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	0	0	92,884
Depreciation and amortization	806,548	866,549	1,007,164
(Gain) loss on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(55,722)	65,582	277,031
Impairments	303,751	305,094	409,991
Reserve for loan loss	0	15,300	0
Equity-based compensation	10,728	14,500	31,861
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	415	(2,361)	77
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	4,013	11,352	8,335
Loss on derivative instruments	1,191	1,460	10,570
(Gain) on investment securities	0	(65)	(6,357)
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	771	(4,812)	(14,012)
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	0	0	(15,300)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	3,976	2,035	1,597
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(52,626)	(62,356)	(97,125)
Due from affiliates	(416)	25,489	(32,821)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(3,323)	(999)	(16,279)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(17,740)	(45,934)	(99,930)
Due to affiliates	(214)	(329)	(43,887)
Net cash provided by operating activities	800,528	867,013	502,887
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(100,194)	(36,319)	(3,539,906)
Acquisition of real estate businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	(756,232)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(16,568)	(18,569)	(34,687)
Real estate developments	(17,411)	(57,682)	(72,515)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	5,417	6,921	77,614
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(25,777)	0	(2,500)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	1,000,700	1,009,107	1,598,767
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(2,259)	(1,911)	(11,890)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	0	392	159,752
Deposits for real estate assets	(17,856)	(16,542)	(265,372)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	13,305	48,702	347,971
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(10,300)	(10,000)	(125,000)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	50,000	10,000	81,100
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	0	0	(2,952)
Change in restricted cash	11,136	(1,504)	(8,606)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	890,193	932,595	(2,554,456)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	3,112	1,445	1,010,219
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including extinguishment costs	(333,409)	(184,504)	(1,255,506)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,033,000	60,000	5,824,000
Payments on credit facility	(1,993,000)	(1,784,000)	(5,918,800)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	1,000,000	0	2,545,760
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(1,311,203)	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(19,872)	(2,436)	(116,373)
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock	0	0	(316,126)
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(4,652)	(2,227)	(7,690)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	702,765	0	1,656,000
Payments of equity issuance costs	(280)	0	(60,955)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	675	0	982
Distributions paid	(580,508)	(235,494)	(950,414)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	0	0	4,458
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,503,372)	(2,147,216)	2,415,555
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	187,349	(347,608)	363,986
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	69,103	416,711	52,725
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	256,452	69,103	416,711
2016 Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	300,000
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	(300,000)
2016 Term Loan [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	300,000	0	0
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	(300,000)	0	0
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	(200,824)	(323,492)	(1,010,912)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	0	0	92,884
Depreciation and amortization	806,548	866,549	1,007,164
(Gain) loss on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(55,722)	65,582	277,031
Impairments	303,751	305,094	409,991
Reserve for loan loss	0	15,300	0
Equity-based compensation	10,728	14,500	31,861
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	415	(2,361)	77
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	4,013	11,352	8,335
Loss on derivative instruments	1,191	1,460	10,570
(Gain) on investment securities	0	(65)	(6,357)
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	771	(4,812)	(14,012)
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	0	0	(15,300)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	3,976	2,035	1,597
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(52,626)	(62,356)	(97,125)
Due from affiliates	(416)	25,489	(32,821)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(3,323)	(999)	(16,279)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(17,740)	(45,934)	(99,930)
Due to affiliates	(214)	(329)	(43,887)
Net cash provided by operating activities	800,528	867,013	502,887
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(100,194)	(36,319)	(3,539,906)
Acquisition of real estate businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	(756,232)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(16,568)	(18,569)	(34,687)
Real estate developments	(17,411)	(57,682)	(72,515)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	5,417	6,921	77,614
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(25,777)	0	(2,500)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	1,000,700	1,009,107	1,598,767
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(2,259)	(1,911)	(11,890)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	0	392	159,752
Deposits for real estate assets	(17,856)	(16,542)	(265,372)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	13,305	48,702	347,971
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(10,300)	(10,000)	(125,000)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	50,000	10,000	81,100
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	0	0	(2,952)
Change in restricted cash	11,136	(1,504)	(8,606)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	890,193	932,595	(2,554,456)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	3,112	1,445	1,010,219
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including extinguishment costs	(333,409)	(184,504)	(1,255,506)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,033,000	60,000	5,824,000
Payments on credit facility	(1,993,000)	(1,784,000)	(5,918,800)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	1,000,000	0	2,545,760
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(1,311,203)	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(19,872)	(2,436)	(116,373)
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock	0	0	(316,126)
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(4,652)	(2,227)	(7,690)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	702,765	0	1,656,000
Payments of equity issuance costs	(280)	0	(60,955)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	675	0	982
Distributions paid	(580,508)	(235,494)	(950,414)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	0	0	4,458
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,503,372)	(2,147,216)	2,415,555
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	187,349	(347,608)	363,986
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	69,103	416,711	52,725
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	256,452	69,103	416,711
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | 2016 Term Loan [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	300,000	0	0
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	$ (300,000)	$ 0	$ 0