Noncontrolling Interests (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property item shares	Jun. 27, 2013 shares	Jan. 22, 2013 shares
Noncontrolling interests
Conversion ratio	1
Number of properties acquired | property			2
Number of joint ventures controlling interest acquired | item			2
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 20,249
Distributions	(634)
Allocation of net income	165	$ 241
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 19,780		$ 20,249
Joint Venture One
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)	92.40%
Joint Venture Two
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)	74.00%
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	$ 13,405
Distributions	(200)
Allocation of net income	65
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 13,270		$ 13,405
Units held by third party | shares	317,022		317,022		317,022
Realty Income, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Third party partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)	0.40%
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)	99.60%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 2,216
Distributions	(56)
Allocation of net income	64
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 2,224		$ 2,216
Units held by third party | shares	88,182		88,182	534,546
Other Noncontrolling Interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 4,628
Distributions	(378)
Allocation of net income	36
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 4,286		$ 4,628