Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) item shares
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Cash paid for interest	$ 229,500,000	$ 207,300,000	$ 166,100,000
Interest capitalized to properties under development	594,000	444,000	537,000
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 3,100,000	3,700,000	2,100,000
Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed		6,015,000
Loans Assumed		166,700,000	81,300,000
Net premiums recorded on mortgages assumed		604,000	6,100,000
Interest rate swap agreement acquired		901,000
Real estate acquired in exchange of properties		11,600,000	7,400,000
Receivable recorded for the sale of an investment property as a result of an eminent domain action			$ 1,900,000
Number of investment properties sold as a result of an eminent domain action | item			2
Increase in Buildings and Improvements and Accounts Payable		4,000,000	$ 5,500,000
Loans receivable		$ 48,900,000
Number of acquired properties | item		5
Realty Income, L.P.
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Mortgage notes payable			32,400,000
Real estate acquired			$ 55,900,000
Number of units issued | shares			534,546
Cash			$ 1,000,000
ARCT
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Real estate investments and related intangible assets			3,200,000,000
Other assets			19,500,000
Lines of credit payable			317,200,000
Term loan			235,000,000
Mortgage notes payable			539,000,000
Acquired lease intangible liabilities			79,700,000
Other liabilities			29,000,000
Noncontrolling interests			$ 14,000,000