Noncontrolling Interests (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Jun. 27, 2013 shares	Jan. 22, 2013 shares
Noncontrolling interests
Conversion ratio				1
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 27,698			$ 27,698	$ 35,911	$ 35,911
Reallocation of equity				(1,051)		(6,647)
Redemption				(2,121)		(1,032)
Distributions				(837)		(1,839)
Allocation of net income		$ 263	$ 339	581	671	1,305
Carrying value at end of the period	27,698	$ 24,270		27,698	35,911	35,911	$ 27,698
Carrying value of preferred units							6,750
Tau Operating Partnership, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		99.40%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	13,067			13,067	13,489	13,489
Reallocation of equity				836
Distributions				(360)		(695)
Allocation of net income				133		273
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 13,067	$ 13,676		13,067	13,489	13,489	$ 13,067
Units held by third party | shares		317,022					317,022		317,022
Payment rate per annum (as a percent)							2.00%
Partnership preferred units redeemed (in shares) | shares	6,750
Partnership preferred units redemption price (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 1,000
Realty Income, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Third party partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		1.70%
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		98.30%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 14,631			14,631	22,422	22,422
Reallocation of equity				(1,887)		(6,647)
Redemption				(2,121)		(1,032)
Distributions				(477)		(1,144)
Allocation of net income				448		1,032
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 14,631	$ 10,594		$ 14,631	$ 22,422	$ 22,422	$ 14,631
Units held by third party | shares		419,546					499,546	534,546