CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (307,106)	$ (88,030)	$ 32,378
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	495,232	659,948	745,499
Gain on real estate assets, net	(296,447)	(96,068)	(61,536)
Impairments from held for sale	0	0	20,027
Impairments	47,091	54,647	50,548
Equity-based compensation	13,101	13,314	16,751
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(2,618)	(1,869)	(2,726)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	284	1,366	3,646
Loss (gain) on investments	492	(4,092)	(65)
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments	58	(355)	(2,976)
Non-cash restructuring expense	3,951	0	0
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	17,910	(5,360)	(18,373)
Surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	26,536	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,622	2,078	2,097
Rent and tenant receivables, operating lease right-of-use and other assets, net	(18,367)	(34,096)	(21,394)
Due from affiliates	0	0	1,163
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	0	(2,492)	13,812
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,719)	1,688	10,742
Deferred rent, operating lease and other liabilities	(19,551)	7,162	(395)
Due to affiliates	0	(66)	50
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	0	(13,861)	4,019
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(107,603)	493,914	793,267
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(394,662)	(500,625)	(699,004)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(37,957)	(22,291)	(21,694)
Real estate developments	(28,125)	(9,221)	(14,850)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	106	5,761	6,796
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(2,767)	(771)	0
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	1,138	48	1,972
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	1,067,532	502,289	445,525
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	0	122,915	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,716)	(841)	(1,191)
Deposits for real estate assets	(8,453)	(13,412)	(37,226)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	9,837	46,966	400
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	6,328	17,267	36,111
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,957	1,434	355
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	0	(2,200)	(16,400)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	0	3,800	25,100
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	613,218	151,119	(274,106)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	705	187	4,652
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(374,058)	(137,887)	(424,385)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,386,000	1,934,000	329,000
Payments on credit facility	(739,000)	(1,716,000)	(645,107)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	593,052	546,304	600,000
Redemptions of corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(1,160,977)	0	0
Repurchases of convertible notes, including extinguishment costs	(82,254)	(597,500)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(4,190)	(25,471)	(9,575)
Repurchases of Common Stock under the share repurchase programs	0	(50,154)	(518)
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(1,618)	(2,326)	(2,148)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount and offering expenses	1,014,215	0	0
Redemption of Series F Preferred Stock	(300,122)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	64	120	101
Distributions paid	(665,241)	(606,679)	(608,615)
Payment related to the surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	(191,974)	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(525,398)	(655,406)	(756,595)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(19,783)	(10,373)	(237,434)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	33,880	53,663	64,036
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	53,663	61,838	298,497
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	53,663	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	0	(2,198)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	33,880	53,663	61,838
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	30,758	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at beginning of period	22,905	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	12,921	30,758	34,176
Restricted cash at end of period	20,959	22,905	27,662
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	(307,106)	(88,030)	32,378
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	495,232	659,948	745,499
Gain on real estate assets, net	(296,447)	(96,068)	(61,536)
Impairments from held for sale	0	0	20,027
Impairments	47,091	54,647	50,548
Equity-based compensation	13,101	13,314	16,751
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities and gain on joint venture	(2,618)	(1,869)	(2,726)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	284	1,366	3,646
Loss (gain) on investments	492	(4,092)	(65)
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments	58	(355)	(2,976)
Non-cash restructuring expense	3,951	0	0
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	17,910	(5,360)	(18,373)
Surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	26,536	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,622	2,078	2,097
Rent and tenant receivables, operating lease right-of-use and other assets, net	(18,367)	(34,096)	(21,394)
Due from affiliates	0	0	1,163
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	0	(2,492)	13,812
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,719)	1,688	10,742
Deferred rent, operating lease and other liabilities	(19,551)	7,162	(395)
Due to affiliates	0	(66)	50
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	0	(13,861)	4,019
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(107,603)	493,914	793,267
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(394,662)	(500,625)	(699,004)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(37,957)	(22,291)	(21,694)
Real estate developments	(28,125)	(9,221)	(14,850)
Principal repayments received on investment securities and mortgage notes receivable	106	5,761	6,796
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(2,767)	(771)	0
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	1,138	48	1,972
Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture	1,067,532	502,289	445,525
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	0	122,915	0
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(1,716)	(841)	(1,191)
Deposits for real estate assets	(8,453)	(13,412)	(37,226)
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	9,837	46,966	400
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	6,328	17,267	36,111
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	1,957	1,434	355
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	0	(2,200)	(16,400)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	0	3,800	25,100
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	613,218	151,119	(274,106)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	705	187	4,652
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(374,058)	(137,887)	(424,385)
Proceeds from credit facility	1,386,000	1,934,000	329,000
Payments on credit facility	(739,000)	(1,716,000)	(645,107)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	593,052	546,304	600,000
Redemptions of corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(1,160,977)	0	0
Repurchases of convertible notes, including extinguishment costs	(82,254)	(597,500)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(4,190)	(25,471)	(9,575)
Repurchases of Common Stock under the share repurchase programs	0	(50,154)	(518)
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(1,618)	(2,326)	(2,148)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount and offering expenses	1,014,215	0	0
Redemption of Series F Preferred Stock	(300,122)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	64	120	101
Distributions paid	(665,241)	(606,679)	(608,615)
Payment related to the surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	(191,974)	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(525,398)	(655,406)	(756,595)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(19,783)	(10,373)	(237,434)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	33,880	53,663	64,036
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	(2,198)	(2,973)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	53,663	61,838	298,497
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	53,663	64,036	301,470
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	0	(2,198)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	33,880	53,663	61,838
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	30,758	34,176	253,479
Restricted cash at beginning of period	22,905	27,662	45,018
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	12,921	30,758	34,176
Restricted cash at end of period	$ 20,959	$ 22,905	$ 27,662