Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Rental income from operating leases	$ 371,948,000		$ 311,753,000		$ 239,758,000
Earned income from direct financing leases	1,955,000		2,119,000		2,367,000
Percentage rent	1,557,000		1,165,000		1,093,000
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants	13,110,000		11,587,000		10,080,000
Interest and other income from real estate transactions	1,467,000		2,239,000		2,287,000
Interest income on commercial mortgage residual interests	2,290,000		2,673,000		3,105,000
Total revenues	392,327,000		331,536,000		258,690,000
Retail operations:
Revenues	0		19,008,000		45,139,000
Operating expenses	0		(18,542,000)		(43,088,000)
Net	0		466,000		2,051,000
Operating expenses:
General and administrative	32,576,000		32,187,000		28,796,000
Real estate	18,100,000		17,041,000		16,997,000
Depreciation and amortization	99,246,000		73,707,000		56,466,000
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	1,185,000		2,812,000		1,024,000
Impairment losses and other charges, net of recoveries	1,972,000		3,088,000		(1,349,000)
Total operating expenses	153,079,000		128,835,000		101,934,000
Earnings from operations	239,248,000		203,167,000		158,807,000
Other expenses (revenues):
Interest and other income	(1,493,000)		(2,232,000)		(1,593,000)
Interest expense	85,283,000		83,192,000		75,532,000
Total other expenses (revenues)	83,790,000		80,960,000		73,939,000
Earnings from continuing operations before gain on disposition of real estate, income tax benefit (expense) and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	155,458,000		122,207,000		84,868,000
Gain on disposition of real estate	173,000		0		297,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(618,000)		6,947,000		(899,000)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	0		4,074,000		474,000
Earnings from continuing operations	155,013,000		133,228,000		84,740,000
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense	5,072,000		8,709,000		7,676,000
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	160,085,000		141,937,000		92,416,000
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Continuing operations	286,000		107,000		9,000
Discontinued operations	(226,000)		(29,000)		(100,000)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	60,000		78,000		(91,000)
Net earnings attributable to NNN	160,145,000		142,015,000		92,325,000
Excess of redemption value over carrying value of Series C preferred shares redeemed	0		(3,098,000)		0
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	132,222,000		121,489,000		85,540,000
Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07		$ 1.05		$ 0.88
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ 0.08		$ 0.08
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11		$ 1.13		$ 0.96
Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06		$ 1.03		$ 0.87
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ 0.08		$ 0.09
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.10		$ 1.11		$ 0.96
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	118,204,148		106,965,156		88,100,076
Diluted (in shares)	119,864,824		109,117,515		88,837,057
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings attributable to NNN	160,145,000		142,015,000		92,325,000
Amortization of interest rate hedges	438,000		231,000		9,000
Fair value treasury locks	(3,141,000)		0		(5,218,000)
Unrealized gains (losses) – commercial mortgage residual interests	(438,000)		1,132,000		(246,000)
Stock value adjustments	69,000		85,000		(36,000)
Noncontrolling interests	949,000		0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to NNN	158,022,000		143,463,000		86,834,000
Series C Depositary Share
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	0	[1]	(1,979,000)	[1]	(6,785,000)	[1]
Series D Depositary Share
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	(19,047,000)	[2]	(15,449,000)	[2]	0	[2]
Series E Depositary Share
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	$ (8,876,000)	[3]	$ 0	[3]	$ 0	[3]

[1] The Series C Preferred Stock was redeemed in March 2012. The dividends paid during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 include accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date.

[2] The Series D Preferred Stock dividends paid during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 include accumulated and unpaid dividends from the issuance date through the declaration date. The Series D Preferred Stock has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed.

[3] The Series E Preferred Stock dividends paid during the quarter ended September 30, 2013 include accumulated and unpaid dividends from the issuance date through the declaration date.