CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (115,872)	$ 65,470
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	503,529	562,673
Gain on real estate assets, net	(70,188)	(54,432)
Impairments	36,082	30,857
Equity-based compensation	10,203	11,224
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(1,644)	(805)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	1,365	1,641
Gain on investments	(2,302)	(65)
Gain on derivative instruments, net	(447)	(2,710)
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(5,339)	(18,691)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,524	1,575
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(28,520)	(15,105)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	(2,492)	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	132,686	13,759
Deferred rent and other liabilities	(11,001)	(27)
Due to affiliates	(66)	(8)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	(13,861)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	433,657	595,356
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(278,385)	(403,886)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(13,116)	(14,081)
Real estate developments	(7,477)	(10,863)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	5,555	6,281
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	48	1,141
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	358,443	366,237
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	123,925	0
Payments related to disposition of discontinued operations	(1,010)	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(616)	(446)
Deposits for real estate assets	(11,957)	(32,946)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	10,880	0
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	8,552	20,989
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,354	53
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	(2,200)	(400)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	3,800	10,700
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	197,796	(57,221)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	182	4,283
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(125,418)	(392,390)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,558,000	0
Payments on credit facility	(950,000)	(501,107)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	0	600,000
Repayment of convertible notes	(597,500)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(20,719)	(9,313)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(50,154)	(518)
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(2,209)	(1,913)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	120	0
Distributions paid	(455,078)	(456,487)
Net cash used in financing activities	(642,776)	(757,445)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(11,323)	(219,310)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	61,838	298,497
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	52,713	82,160
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,472)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at beginning of period	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	25,264	51,891
Restricted cash at end of period	27,449	27,797
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	52,713	79,688
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	(115,872)	65,470
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	503,529	562,673
Gain on real estate assets, net	(70,188)	(54,432)
Impairments	36,082	30,857
Equity-based compensation	10,203	11,224
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(1,644)	(805)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	1,365	1,641
Gain on investments	(2,302)	(65)
Gain on derivative instruments, net	(447)	(2,710)
Gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(5,339)	(18,691)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,524	1,575
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(28,520)	(15,105)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	(2,492)	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	132,686	13,759
Deferred rent and other liabilities	(11,001)	(27)
Due to affiliates	(66)	(8)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	(13,861)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	433,657	595,356
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(278,385)	(403,886)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(13,116)	(14,081)
Real estate developments	(7,477)	(10,863)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	5,555	6,281
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	48	1,141
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	358,443	366,237
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	123,925	0
Payments related to disposition of discontinued operations	(1,010)	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(616)	(446)
Deposits for real estate assets	(11,957)	(32,946)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	10,880	0
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	8,552	20,989
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,354	53
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	(2,200)	(400)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	3,800	10,700
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	197,796	(57,221)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	182	4,283
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(125,418)	(392,390)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,558,000	0
Payments on credit facility	(950,000)	(501,107)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	0	600,000
Repayment of convertible notes	(597,500)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(20,719)	(9,313)
Repurchases of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program	(50,154)	(518)
Repurchases of common stock to settle tax obligations	(2,209)	(1,913)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	120	0
Distributions paid	(455,078)	(456,487)
Net cash used in financing activities	(642,776)	(757,445)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(11,323)	(219,310)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	61,838	298,497
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	52,713	82,160
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,472)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at beginning of period	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	25,264	51,891
Restricted cash at end of period	27,449	27,797
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	$ 52,713	$ 79,688