Debt - Credit Facility (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 6,008,494,000	$ 6,073,444,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	2,300,000,000
Outstanding balance	120,000,000	$ 185,000,000
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] | 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%