CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 201,219	$ (307,106)	$ (88,030)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	469,035	495,232	659,948
Gain on real estate assets, net	(95,551)	(296,447)	(96,068)
Impairments	65,075	47,091	54,647
Equity-based compensation	13,302	13,101	13,314
Equity in income and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(3,539)	(2,618)	(1,869)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	2,364	284	1,366
(Gain) loss on other investments	(3,510)	492	(4,092)
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments	85,392	58	(355)
Non-cash restructuring expense	0	3,951	0
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	1,486	17,910	(5,360)
Surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	0	(26,536)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,495	1,622	2,078
Rent and tenant receivables, operating lease right-of-use and other assets, net	(27,260)	(18,367)	(34,096)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	0	0	(2,492)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(2,075)	(16,719)	1,688
Deferred rent, operating lease and other liabilities	(8,863)	(19,551)	7,162
Due to affiliates	0	0	(66)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	0	0	(13,861)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	698,570	(107,603)	493,914
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(303,306)	(394,662)	(500,625)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(26,773)	(37,957)	(22,291)
Real estate developments	(18,904)	(28,125)	(9,221)
Principal repayments received on other investments	15,727	106	5,761
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(44,174)	(2,767)	(771)
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	4,557	1,138	48
Proceeds from disposition of real estate	407,994	1,067,532	502,289
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	122,915
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(722)	(1,716)	(841)
Deposits for real estate assets	(4,451)	(8,453)	(13,412)
Investments in mezzanine position	(9,959)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	3,804	9,837	46,966
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	6,611	6,328	17,267
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	685	1,957	1,434
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	0	0	(2,200)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	0	0	3,800
Net cash provided by investing activities	31,089	613,218	151,119
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,032	705	187
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(198,284)	(374,058)	(137,887)
Proceeds from credit facility	902,000	1,386,000	1,934,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination payments	(2,037,391)	(739,000)	(1,716,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	1,781,765	593,052	546,304
Redemptions of corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(26)	(1,160,977)	0
Repayments and repurchases of convertible notes, including extinguishment costs	(322,133)	(82,254)	(597,500)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(18,047)	(4,190)	(25,471)
Repurchases of Common Stock under Share Repurchase Programs	0	0	(50,154)
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(2,392)	(1,618)	(2,326)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount and offering expenses	478,572	1,014,215	0
Redemption of Series F Preferred Stock	(300,152)	(300,122)	0
Redemption of Limited Partners’ Common OP Units	(149)	0	0
Fractional common shares settled in reverse stock split	(205)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	64	120
Distributions paid	(510,748)	(665,241)	(606,679)
Payment related to the surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	0	(191,974)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(226,158)	(525,398)	(655,406)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	503,501	(19,783)	(10,373)
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	0	(2,198)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	33,880	53,663	61,838
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period		33,880	53,663
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations		0	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	537,381	33,880	53,663
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,921	30,758	34,176
Restricted cash at beginning of period	20,959	22,905	27,662
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	523,539	12,921	30,758
Restricted cash at end of period	13,842	20,959	22,905
VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	201,219	(307,106)	(88,030)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	469,035	495,232	659,948
Gain on real estate assets, net	(95,551)	(296,447)	(96,068)
Impairments	65,075	47,091	54,647
Equity-based compensation	13,302	13,101	13,314
Equity in income and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(3,539)	(2,618)	(1,869)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	2,364	284	1,366
(Gain) loss on other investments	(3,510)	492	(4,092)
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments	85,392	58	(355)
Non-cash restructuring expense	0	3,951	0
Loss (gain) on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net	1,486	17,910	(5,360)
Surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	0	(26,536)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,495	1,622	2,078
Rent and tenant receivables, operating lease right-of-use and other assets, net	(27,260)	(18,367)	(34,096)
Assets held for sale classified as discontinued operations	0	0	(2,492)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(2,075)	(16,719)	1,688
Deferred rent, operating lease and other liabilities	(8,863)	(19,551)	7,162
Due to affiliates	0	0	(66)
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	0	0	(13,861)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	698,570	(107,603)	493,914
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate assets	(303,306)	(394,662)	(500,625)
Capital expenditures and leasing costs	(26,773)	(37,957)	(22,291)
Real estate developments	(18,904)	(28,125)	(9,221)
Principal repayments received on other investments	15,727	106	5,761
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(44,174)	(2,767)	(771)
Return of investment from unconsolidated entities	4,557	1,138	48
Proceeds from disposition of real estate	407,994	1,067,532	502,289
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	122,915
Investment in leasehold improvements and other assets	(722)	(1,716)	(841)
Deposits for real estate assets	(4,451)	(8,453)	(13,412)
Investments in mezzanine position	(9,959)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets	3,804	9,837	46,966
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate assets	6,611	6,328	17,267
Proceeds from the settlement of property-related insurance claims	685	1,957	1,434
Line of credit advances to Cole REITs	0	0	(2,200)
Line of credit repayments from Cole REITs	0	0	3,800
Net cash provided by investing activities	31,089	613,218	151,119
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,032	705	187
Payments on mortgage notes payable and other debt, including debt extinguishment costs	(198,284)	(374,058)	(137,887)
Proceeds from credit facility	902,000	1,386,000	1,934,000
Payments on credit facility, including swap termination payments	(2,037,391)	(739,000)	(1,716,000)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	1,781,765	593,052	546,304
Redemptions of corporate bonds, including extinguishment costs	(26)	(1,160,977)	0
Repayments and repurchases of convertible notes, including extinguishment costs	(322,133)	(82,254)	(597,500)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(18,047)	(4,190)	(25,471)
Repurchases of Common Stock under Share Repurchase Programs	0	0	(50,154)
Repurchases of Common Stock to settle tax obligations	(2,392)	(1,618)	(2,326)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock, net of underwriters’ discount and offering expenses	478,572	1,014,215	0
Redemption of Series F Preferred Stock	(300,152)	(300,122)	0
Redemption of Limited Partners’ Common OP Units	(149)	0	0
Fractional common shares settled in reverse stock split	(205)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0	64	120
Distributions paid	(510,748)	(665,241)	(606,679)
Payment related to the surrender of Limited Partner OP Units	0	(191,974)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(226,158)	(525,398)	(655,406)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	503,501	(19,783)	(10,373)
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	0	(2,198)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	33,880	53,663	61,838
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	537,381	33,880	53,663
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	537,381	33,880	53,663
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,921	30,758	34,176
Restricted cash at beginning of period	20,959	22,905	27,662
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	523,539	12,921	30,758
Restricted cash at end of period	$ 13,842	$ 20,959	$ 22,905