Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 27, 2013	Jan. 22, 2013
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
Allocation of net income			(1,089)	$ (1,305)	$ (719)
Carrying value at end of the period			21,737	27,698
Carrying value of preferred units				6,750
Noncontrolling interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	27,698		27,698	35,911
Reallocation of equity			(1,051)	(6,647)
Redemptions			(4,347)	(1,032)
Distributions			(1,652)	(1,839)
Allocation of net income			1,089	1,305
Carrying value at end of the period			$ 21,737	27,698	35,911
ARCT
Noncontrolling interests
Shares issued		45,573,144
Common stock redeemed (in shares)		208,709
Total value of common shares issued		$ 2,000,000
Tau Operating Partnership, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)			99.40%
Interest paid on preferred units (as a percent)			2.00%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 13,067		$ 13,067	13,489
Reallocation of equity			836
Distributions			(722)	(695)
Allocation of net income			229	273
Carrying value at end of the period			$ 13,410	$ 13,067	13,489
Units held by third party			317,022	317,022			317,022
Carrying value of preferred units				$ 6,750
Units Redeemed During Period Shares	6,750
Payments For Repurchase Of Redeemable Preferred Stock During Period Value Conversion Of Units Price Per Unit	$ 1,000
Realty Income, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)			98.60%
Third party partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)			1.40%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 14,631		$ 14,631	22,422
Reallocation of equity			(1,887)	(6,647)
Redemptions			(4,347)	(1,032)
Distributions			(930)	(1,144)
Allocation of net income			860	1,032
Carrying value at end of the period			$ 8,327	$ 14,631	$ 22,422
Units held by third party			331,364	499,546		534,546