Related Party Transactions and Arrangements - Offering-Related Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reserves for uncollectible amounts	$ 11.1	$ 11.3	$ 3.2
Selling Commissions Allowable [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%		100.00%
Selling Commissions Allowable [Member] | Cole REITs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%		100.00%
Program Development Costs [Member] | Rent and Tenant Receivables and Other Assets, Net [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reserves related to program development costs	$ 31.7	$ 34.8	$ 31.7
Program Development Costs [Member] | Rent and Tenant Receivables and Other Assets, Net [Member] | Cole REITs [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from (to) related party	3.2	12.9	3.2
Reserves related to program development costs	$ 31.7	$ 34.8	$ 31.7
Selling Commissions [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class A Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	7.00%		7.00%
Selling Commissions [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	3.00%		3.00%
Selling Commissions [Member] | INAV [Member] | Advisor Class Shares [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	3.75%		3.75%
Selling Commissions [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class A Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	7.00%		7.00%
Selling Commissions [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	3.00%		3.00%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class A Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	2.00%		2.00%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	2.00%		2.00%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | INAV [Member] | Wrap Class Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	0.55%		0.55%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | INAV [Member] | Advisor Class Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	0.55%		0.55%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | INAV [Member] | Institutional Class Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	0.25%		0.25%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | INAV [Member] | INAV Classes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Daily accrual percentage of estimated per share NAV and payable monthly in arrears	0.27%		0.27%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class A Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	2.00%		2.00%
Dealer Manager Fees [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	2.00%		2.00%
Annual Distribution and Stockholder Servicing Fee [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	1.00%		1.00%	0.80%
Annual Distribution and Stockholder Servicing Fee [Member] | CCPT V [Member] | Class T Shares [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	4.00%		4.00%
Annual Distribution and Stockholder Servicing Fee [Member] | INAV [Member] | Advisor Class Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	0.50%		0.50%
Annual Distribution and Stockholder Servicing Fee [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class T Shares [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	1.00%		1.00%
Annual Distribution and Stockholder Servicing Fee [Member] | CCIT III [Member] | Class T Shares [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related party, percentage of gross offering proceeds	4.00%		4.00%