Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rental income from operating leases	$ 462,346	$ 414,043	$ 372,913
Earned income from direct financing leases	1,506	1,725	1,955
Percentage rent	1,430	1,074	1,556
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants	14,868	13,875	13,340
Interest and other income from real estate transactions	986	2,296	1,471
Interest income on commercial mortgage residual interests	1,778	1,834	2,290
Total revenues	482,914	434,847	393,525
Operating expenses:
General and administrative	34,736	32,518	31,095
Real estate	19,774	18,905	18,497
Depreciation and amortization	134,798	116,162	99,274
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation	531	256	1,185
Impairment losses and other charges, net of recoveries	4,420	760	3,580
Total operating expenses	194,259	168,601	153,631
Earnings from operations	288,655	266,246	239,894
Other expenses (revenues):
Interest and other income	(109)	(357)	(1,493)
Interest expense	90,008	85,510	85,822
Real estate acquisition costs	927	1,391	1,485
Total other expenses (revenues)	90,826	86,544	85,814
Earnings from continuing operations before income tax benefit (expense)	197,829	179,702	154,080
Income tax benefit (expense)	(10,318)	75	(74)
Earnings from continuing operations	187,511	179,777	154,006
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense	0	124	5,972
Earnings before gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense	187,511	179,901	159,978
Gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense	10,450	11,269	107
Earnings including noncontrolling interests	197,961	191,170	160,085
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Continuing operations	(125)	(569)	223
Discontinued operations	0	0	(163)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(125)	(569)	60
Net earnings attributable to NNN	197,836	190,601	160,145
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	$ 162,402	$ 155,167	$ 132,222
Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.21	$ 1.24	$ 1.06
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.05
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	1.21	1.24	1.11
Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.20	1.24	1.05
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.05
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.24	$ 1.10
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	133,998,674	124,257,558	118,204,148
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in diluted earnings per share (shares)	134,489,416	124,710,226	119,864,824
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings attributable to NNN	$ 197,836	$ 190,601	$ 160,145
Amortization of interest rate hedges	1,902	1,129	438
Fair value forward starting swaps	(13,369)	(6,312)	(3,141)
Net gain (loss) – commercial mortgage residual interests	(339)	1,038	(438)
Net gain (loss) – available-for-sale securities	112	(8)	69
Reclassification of noncontrolling interests	0	0	949
Comprehensive income attributable to NNN	186,142	186,448	158,022
Series D Preferred Stock
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	(19,047)	(19,047)	(19,047)
Series E Preferred Stock
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Preferred stock dividends	$ (16,387)	$ (16,387)	$ (8,876)