Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of segments | segment		2
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 0	$ 120,931,000	$ 139,655,000
Amortization expense		26,200,000	25,900,000
Intangible assets	24,609,000	$ 24,609,000	50,779,000
Cole REITs [Member] | Management And Advisory Contracts [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		3 years
Estimated amortization expense for 2017	16,600,000	$ 16,600,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2018	4,000,000	4,000,000
Estimated amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2019	3,800,000	3,800,000
Intangible assets	24,600,000	24,600,000	50,800,000
Accumulated amortization	$ 29,600,000	$ 29,600,000	3,400,000
REI Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of segments | segment		1
Goodwill impairment charge		$ 0	0	$ 0
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of segments | segment		1
Goodwill impairment charge		$ 120,931,000	$ 139,655,000	$ 223,100,000