Earnings From Discontinued Operations (Summary Of Earnings From Discontinued Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental income from operating leases									$ 311,624	$ 240,816	$ 204,627
Percentage rent									1,165	1,093	919
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants									11,443	9,914	7,181
Interest and other income from real estate transactions									2,410	2,302	2,982
Total revenues	88,899	84,327	81,316	77,210	72,959	66,166	60,596	60,218	331,752	259,939	222,084
General and administrative									32,182	28,814	22,764
Real estate									17,069	16,832	13,177
Depreciation and amortization									74,140	56,926	46,887
Impairment losses and other charges									8,411	(1,431)	7,458
Total operating expenses									134,614	102,165	94,281
Interest and other income									(2,232)	(1,511)	(1,513)
Interest expense									82,502	74,845	65,179
Total other expenses (revenues)									80,270	73,334	63,666
Earnings from continuing operations before gain on disposition of real estate, income tax benefit (expense) and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate									117,333	86,483	65,448
Gain on disposition of real estate									0	297	641
Income tax expense									7,086	(779)	(475)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to NNN including noncontrolling interests									13,444	5,941	7,311
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests									78	(91)	(356)
Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental income from operating leases									7,471	9,462	11,095
Earned income from direct financing leases									6	78	87
Percentage rent									27	27	40
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants									527	632	1,663
Interest and other income from real estate transactions									44	47	578
Total revenues									8,075	10,246	13,463
General and administrative									26	22	100
Real estate									997	1,201	2,421
Depreciation and amortization									1,046	1,495	1,787
Impairment losses and other charges									1,901	431	0
Total operating expenses									3,970	3,149	4,308
Interest and other income									0	0	(2)
Interest expense									1,422	1,382	2,655
Total other expenses (revenues)									1,422	1,382	2,653
Earnings from continuing operations before gain on disposition of real estate, income tax benefit (expense) and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate									2,683	5,715	6,502
Gain on disposition of real estate									10,956	424	1,434
Income tax expense									(195)	(198)	(625)
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests									(51)	(80)	11
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to NNN									$ 13,393	$ 5,861	$ 7,322