CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (88,030)	$ 32,378	$ (200,824)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	659,948	745,499	806,548
Gain on real estate assets, net	(96,068)	(61,536)	(55,722)
Impairments from held for sale	0	20,027	0
Impairments	54,647	50,548	303,751
Equity-based compensation	13,314	16,751	10,728
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(1,869)	(2,726)	415
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	1,366	3,646	1,433
Gain on investments	(4,092)	(65)	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(355)	(2,976)	1,191
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(5,360)	(18,373)	771
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,078	2,097	3,976
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(34,096)	(21,394)	(52,626)
Due from affiliates	0	1,163	(416)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	(2,492)	13,812	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,688	10,742	(3,323)
Deferred rent and other liabilities	7,162	(395)	(17,740)
Due to affiliates	(66)	50	(214)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	(13,861)	4,019	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	493,914	793,267	797,948
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(500,625)	(699,004)	(100,194)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(22,291)	(21,694)	(16,568)
Real estate developments	(9,221)	(14,850)	(17,411)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	5,761	6,796	5,417
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(771)	0	(25,777)
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	48	1,972	2,580
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	502,289	445,525	1,000,700
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	122,915	0	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(841)	(1,191)	(2,259)
Deposits for real estate assets	(13,412)	(37,226)	(17,856)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	46,966	400	0
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	17,267	36,111	13,305
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,434	355	0
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	(2,200)	(16,400)	(10,300)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	3,800	25,100	50,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	151,119	(274,106)	881,637
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	187	4,652	3,112
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(137,887)	(424,385)	(337,022)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,934,000	329,000	1,033,000
Payments on credit facility	(1,716,000)	(645,107)	(1,993,000)
Proceeds from unsecured debt	546,304	600,000	1,000,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	0	0	(1,311,203)
Repayment of convertible notes	(597,500)	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(25,471)	(9,575)	(19,872)
Repurchases of Common Stock under the Share Repurchase Programs	(50,154)	(518)	0
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(2,326)	(2,148)	(4,652)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	0	702,765
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	0	(280)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	120	101	675
Distributions paid	(606,679)	(608,615)	(580,508)
Net cash used in financing activities	(655,406)	(756,595)	(1,506,985)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(10,373)	(237,434)	172,600
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning 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, beginning of period	61,838	298,497	123,902
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	53,663	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	34,176	253,479	64,135
Restricted cash at beginning of period	27,662	45,018	59,767
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	30,758	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at end of period	22,905	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	53,663	61,838	298,497
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	(88,030)	32,378	(200,824)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	659,948	745,499	806,548
Gain on real estate assets, net	(96,068)	(61,536)	(55,722)
Impairments from held for sale	0	20,027	0
Impairments	54,647	50,548	303,751
Equity-based compensation	13,314	16,751	10,728
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(1,869)	(2,726)	415
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	1,366	3,646	1,433
Gain on investments	(4,092)	(65)	0
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net	(355)	(2,976)	1,191
(Gain) loss on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	(5,360)	(18,373)	771
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	2,078	2,097	3,976
Rent and tenant receivables and other assets, net	(34,096)	(21,394)	(52,626)
Due from affiliates	0	1,163	(416)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	(2,492)	13,812	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,688	10,742	(3,323)
Deferred rent and other liabilities	7,162	(395)	(17,740)
Due to affiliates	(66)	50	(214)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	(13,861)	4,019	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	493,914	793,267	797,948
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(500,625)	(699,004)	(100,194)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(22,291)	(21,694)	(16,568)
Real estate developments	(9,221)	(14,850)	(17,411)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	5,761	6,796	5,417
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(771)	0	(25,777)
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	48	1,972	2,580
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	502,289	445,525	1,000,700
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	122,915	0	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(841)	(1,191)	(2,259)
Deposits for real estate assets	(13,412)	(37,226)	(17,856)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	46,966	400	0
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	17,267	36,111	13,305
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,434	355	0
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	(2,200)	(16,400)	(10,300)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	3,800	25,100	50,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	151,119	(274,106)	881,637
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	187	4,652	3,112
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(137,887)	(424,385)	(337,022)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,934,000	329,000	1,033,000
Payments on credit facility	(1,716,000)	(645,107)	(1,993,000)
Proceeds from unsecured debt	546,304	600,000	1,000,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	0	0	(1,311,203)
Repayment of convertible notes	(597,500)	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(25,471)	(9,575)	(19,872)
Repurchases of Common Stock under the Share Repurchase Programs	(50,154)	(518)	0
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(2,326)	(2,148)	(4,652)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount	0	0	702,765
Payments of equity issuance costs	0	0	(280)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	120	101	675
Distributions paid	(606,679)	(608,615)	(580,508)
Net cash used in financing activities	(655,406)	(756,595)	(1,506,985)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(10,373)	(237,434)	172,600
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning 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, beginning of period	61,838	298,497	123,902
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	53,663	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	34,176	253,479	64,135
Restricted cash at beginning of period	27,662	45,018	59,767
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	30,758	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at end of period	22,905	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	53,663	61,838	298,497
Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	0	300,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	0	0	(300,000)
Term Loan [Member] | VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	0	300,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	$ 0	$ 0	$ (300,000)