Mergers with Real Estate Businesses - American Realty Capital Trust IV, Inc. Merger (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016
Series F Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate		6.70%
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred, amount per share (in dollars per share)	$ 9.00
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of merger consideration	$ 651,400,000
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred, amount per share (in dollars per share)	$ 9.00
Conversion rate (shares)	0.5190
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	1,200,000
Minimum holding period	2 years
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion of stock (shares)	6,700,000
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Series F Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.70%
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	42,200,000
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion rate (shares)	0.5937
Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Class B Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion rate (shares)	2.3961
Common Stock [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion rate (shares)	0.5190
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	36,900,000
Preferred Stock [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Series F Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion rate (shares)	0.5937
Contribution and Exchange Agreement [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cumulative capital investment return, threshold percentage	6.00%
ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	600,000
ARCT IV OP Merger [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Subordinated distribution of net sales proceeds	$ 63,200,000
ARCT IV OP Merger [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	2,800,000
Conversion rate (in dollars per share)	$ 22.50
Fair value of unites issued	$ 78,200,000
ARCT IV OP Merger [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	700,000
ARCT IV [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Class B Units [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion rate (shares)	2.3961
ARCT IV Special Ltd. Partner [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Performance hurdle and return to stockholders	$ 358,300,000
ARC [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of merger consideration	$ 750,000
ARC [Member] | Member Units [Member] | ARCT IV Merger [Member] | Class B Units [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued or issuable (shares)	100,000