CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 32,378	$ (200,824)	$ (323,492)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	745,499	806,548	866,549
(Gain) loss on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(61,536)	(55,722)	65,582
Held for sale loss on discontinued operations	20,027	0	0
Impairments	50,548	303,751	305,094
Equity-based compensation	16,751	10,728	14,500
Reserve for loan loss	0	0	15,300
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated entities	(2,726)	415	(2,361)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	3,646	1,433	4,873
Gain on early repayment of mortgage notes receivable and sale of investment securities	(65)	0	(65)
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,976)	1,191	1,460
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(18,373)	771	(4,812)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,097	3,976	2,035
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(21,394)	(52,626)	(63,195)
Due from affiliates, net	1,163	(416)	25,489
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	13,812	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	10,742	(3,323)	(999)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(395)	(17,740)	(45,934)
Due to affiliates	50	(214)	(329)
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	4,019	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	793,267	797,948	859,695
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(699,004)	(100,194)	(36,319)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(21,694)	(16,568)	(18,569)
Real estate developments	(14,850)	(17,411)	(57,682)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,796	5,417	6,921
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(25,777)	0
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	1,972	2,580	6,479
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	445,525	1,000,700	1,009,107
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,191)	(2,259)	(1,911)
Deposits for real estate assets	(37,226)	(17,856)	(16,542)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	400	0	392
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	36,111	13,305	48,702
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	355	0	839
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(16,400)	(10,300)	(10,000)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	25,100	50,000	10,000
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(274,106)	881,637	941,417
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	4,652	3,112	1,445
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment and swap termination costs	(424,385)	(337,022)	(188,892)
Proceeds from credit facility	329,000	1,033,000	60,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination costs	(645,107)	(1,993,000)	(1,784,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	600,000	1,000,000	0
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	0	(1,311,203)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(9,575)	(19,872)	(2,436)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(518)	0	0
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(2,148)	(4,652)	(2,227)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	702,765	0
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	(280)	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	101	675	0
Distributions paid	(608,615)	(580,508)	(235,494)
Net cash used in financing activities	(756,595)	(1,506,985)	(2,151,604)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(237,434)	172,600	(350,492)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	301,470	128,870	479,362
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,973)	(4,968)	(5,850)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	298,497	123,902	473,512
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	64,036	301,470	128,870
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,198)	(2,973)	(4,968)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	61,838	298,497	123,902
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	253,479	64,135	410,861
Restricted cash at beginning of period	45,018	59,767	62,651
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	34,176	253,479	64,135
Restricted cash at end of period	27,662	45,018	59,767
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	32,378	(200,824)	(323,492)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	745,499	806,548	866,549
(Gain) loss on real estate assets and joint venture, net	(61,536)	(55,722)	65,582
Held for sale loss on discontinued operations	20,027	0	0
Impairments	50,548	303,751	305,094
Equity-based compensation	16,751	10,728	14,500
Reserve for loan loss	0	0	15,300
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated entities	(2,726)	415	(2,361)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	3,646	1,433	4,873
Gain on early repayment of mortgage notes receivable and sale of investment securities	(65)	0	(65)
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(2,976)	1,191	1,460
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(18,373)	771	(4,812)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,097	3,976	2,035
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(21,394)	(52,626)	(63,195)
Due from affiliates, net	1,163	(416)	25,489
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	13,812	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	10,742	(3,323)	(999)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(395)	(17,740)	(45,934)
Due to affiliates	50	(214)	(329)
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	4,019	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	793,267	797,948	859,695
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(699,004)	(100,194)	(36,319)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(21,694)	(16,568)	(18,569)
Real estate developments	(14,850)	(17,411)	(57,682)
Principal repayments received from borrowers	6,796	5,417	6,921
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(25,777)	0
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	1,972	2,580	6,479
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	445,525	1,000,700	1,009,107
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,191)	(2,259)	(1,911)
Deposits for real estate assets	(37,226)	(17,856)	(16,542)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	400	0	392
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	36,111	13,305	48,702
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	355	0	839
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(16,400)	(10,300)	(10,000)
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	25,100	50,000	10,000
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(274,106)	881,637	941,417
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	4,652	3,112	1,445
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment and swap termination costs	(424,385)	(337,022)	(188,892)
Proceeds from credit facility	329,000	1,033,000	60,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination costs	(645,107)	(1,993,000)	(1,784,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	600,000	1,000,000	0
Payments on corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	0	(1,311,203)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(9,575)	(19,872)	(2,436)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(518)	0	0
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(2,148)	(4,652)	(2,227)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	702,765	0
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	(280)	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	101	675	0
Distributions paid	(608,615)	(580,508)	(235,494)
Net cash used in financing activities	(756,595)	(1,506,985)	(2,151,604)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(237,434)	172,600	(350,492)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	301,470	128,870	479,362
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,973)	(4,968)	(5,850)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	298,497	123,902	473,512
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	64,036	301,470	128,870
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,198)	(2,973)	(4,968)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	61,838	298,497	123,902
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	253,479	64,135	410,861
Restricted cash at beginning of period	45,018	59,767	62,651
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	34,176	253,479	64,135
Restricted cash at end of period	27,662	45,018	59,767
2016 Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	0	300,000	0
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	0	(300,000)	0
2016 Term Loan [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2016 Term Loan	0	300,000	0
Repayment of 2016 Term Loan	$ 0	$ (300,000)	$ 0