CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
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)	974,208,583	974,146,650
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	974,208,583	974,146,650
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', units issued (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)	974,208,583	974,146,650
General partners', units outstanding (shares)	974,208,583	974,146,650
Limited partners', units issued (shares)	23,748,347	23,748,347
Limited partners', units outstanding (shares)	23,748,347	23,748,347