Debt - Credit Facility Narrative (Details)		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding balance		$ 5,917,287,000	$ 6,367,248,000
Outstanding balance		0	496,578,000
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding balance		0	496,578,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding balance		0	$ 496,578,000
Maximum borrowing capacity		2,300,000,000
Maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any one time		$ 25,000,000
Length of extension option		1 year
Maximum leverage ratio (less than or equal to)		60.00%
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (of at least)		1.5
Secured leverage ratio (less than or equal to)		45.00%
Unencumbered asset value ratio (less than or equal to)		60.00%
Minimum tangible net worth covenant (of at least)		$ 5,500,000,000.0
Minimum unencumbered interest coverage ratio (of at least)		1.75
Minimum unencumbered asset value (of at least)		$ 8,000,000,000.0
Credit Facility [Member] | Fixed Interest Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding balance		$ 500,000,000
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs	$ 2,000,000
Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.80%
Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.00%
Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.80%
Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.50%
Credit Facility [Member] | Loans Payable [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.15%
Credit Facility [Member] | Loans Payable [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.05%
Credit Facility [Member] | Loans Payable [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.15%
Credit Facility [Member] | Loans Payable [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.05%
Credit Facility [Member] | Unencumbered Asset [Member] | Tranche One [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unencumbered Asset Value ratio		30.00%
Credit Facility [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee percentage		0.15%
Credit Facility [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee percentage		0.25%