CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	974,146,650	904,884,394
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	974,146,650	904,884,394
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Preferred Units [Member]
General partners', units issued (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
General partners', units outstanding (shares)	42,834,138	42,834,138
Limited partners', Series F preferred units (shares)	86,874	86,874
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares)	86,874	86,874
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
General partners', units issued (shares)	974,146,650	904,884,394
General partners', units outstanding (shares)	974,146,650	904,884,394
Limited partners', Series F preferred units (shares)	23,748,347	23,763,797
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares)	23,748,347	23,763,797