CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 65,470	$ (82,601)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	562,673	610,291
Gain on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(54,432)	(55,921)
Impairments	30,857	176,214
Equity-based compensation	11,224	7,097
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(805)	(488)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	2,782	3,007
Gain on investment securities	(65)	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,710)	3,286
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(18,691)	1,751
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,575	1,861
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(19,463)	(51,702)
Due from affiliates, net	4,411	50
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	13,759	(6,726)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(27)	(1,235)
Due to affiliates	(8)	(230)
Net cash provided by operating activities	596,550	604,654
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(403,886)	(19,952)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(14,081)	(15,892)
Real estate developments	(10,863)	(6,288)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,281	4,906
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(2,500)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	366,237	615,246
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(446)	(726)
Deposits for real estate assets	(32,946)	(11,686)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	20,989	9,753
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(400)	(10,300)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	10,700	50,000
Change in restricted cash	14,606	(5,674)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(43,809)	606,887
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	4,283	1,450
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment and swap termination costs	(389,775)	(145,802)
Proceeds from credit facility	0	783,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination costs	(501,107)	(1,743,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	600,000	1,000,000
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	0	(1,311,208)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(9,313)	(19,056)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(518)	0
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(1,913)	(4,148)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	702,765
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	(274)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	675
Distributions paid	(456,487)	(428,428)
Net cash used in financing activities	(754,830)	(1,164,026)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(202,089)	47,515
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	256,452	69,103
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	54,363	116,618
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	65,470	(82,601)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	562,673	610,291
Gain on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(54,432)	(55,921)
Impairments	30,857	176,214
Equity-based compensation	11,224	7,097
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(805)	(488)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	2,782	3,007
Gain on investment securities	(65)	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,710)	3,286
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(18,691)	1,751
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,575	1,861
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(19,463)	(51,702)
Due from affiliates, net	4,411	50
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	13,759	(6,726)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(27)	(1,235)
Due to affiliates	(8)	(230)
Net cash provided by operating activities	596,550	604,654
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(403,886)	(19,952)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(14,081)	(15,892)
Real estate developments	(10,863)	(6,288)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,281	4,906
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(2,500)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	366,237	615,246
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(446)	(726)
Deposits for real estate assets	(32,946)	(11,686)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	20,989	9,753
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(400)	(10,300)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	10,700	50,000
Change in restricted cash	14,606	(5,674)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(43,809)	606,887
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	4,283	1,450
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment and swap termination costs	(389,775)	(145,802)
Proceeds from credit facility	0	783,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination costs	(501,107)	(1,743,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	600,000	1,000,000
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	0	(1,311,208)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(9,313)	(19,056)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(518)	0
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(1,913)	(4,148)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	702,765
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	(274)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	675
Distributions paid	(456,487)	(428,428)
Net cash used in financing activities	(754,830)	(1,164,026)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(202,089)	47,515
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	256,452	69,103
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	54,363	116,618
2016 Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	0	300,000
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	0	(300,000)
2016 Term Loan [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	0	300,000
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	$ 0	$ (300,000)