CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental income from operating leases		$ 512,883		$ 462,346	$ 414,043
Earned income from direct financing leases		1,336		1,506	1,725
Percentage rent		1,735		1,430	1,074
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants		14,984		14,868	13,875
Interest and other income from real estate transactions		1,032		988	2,326
Interest income on commercial mortgage residual interests		1,677		1,778	1,834
Total revenues		533,647		482,916	434,877
Operating expenses:
General and administrative		36,508		34,736	32,518
Real estate		20,852		19,776	18,935
Depreciation and amortization		149,101		134,798	116,162
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation		6,830		531	256
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries		11,287		4,420	760
Total operating expenses		224,578		194,261	168,631
Earnings from operations		309,069		288,655	266,246
Other expenses (revenues):
Interest and other income		(170)		(109)	(357)
Interest expense		96,352		90,008	85,510
Real estate acquisition costs		563		927	1,391
Total other expenses (revenues)		96,745		90,826	86,544
Earnings from continuing operations before income tax benefit (expense)		212,324		197,829	179,702
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		(10,318)	75
Earnings from continuing operations		212,324		187,511	179,777
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense		0		0	124
Earnings before gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense		212,324		187,511	179,901
Gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense		27,182		10,450	11,269
Earnings including noncontrolling interests		239,506		197,961	191,170
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests – continuing operations		(6)		(125)	(569)
Net earnings attributable to NNN		239,500		197,836	190,601
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders		$ 200,877		$ 162,402	$ 155,167
Net earnings per share of common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 1.39		$ 1.21	$ 1.24
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 1.38		$ 1.20	$ 1.24
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)		144,176,224		133,998,674	124,257,558
Diluted (in shares)		144,660,633		134,489,416	124,710,226
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings attributable to NNN		$ 239,500		$ 197,836	$ 190,601
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges		2,802		1,902	1,129
Fair value forward starting swaps		13,345		(13,369)	(6,312)
Net gain (loss) – commercial mortgage residual interests		(4,454)		(339)	1,038
Net gain (loss) – available-for-sale securities		468		112	(8)
Comprehensive income attributable to NNN		251,661		186,142	186,448
Series D Preferred Stock
Other expenses (revenues):
Preferred stock dividends	[1]	(19,047)		(19,047)	(19,047)
Series E Preferred Stock
Other expenses (revenues):
Preferred stock dividends	[2]	(16,387)		(16,387)	(16,387)
Series F Preferred Stock
Other expenses (revenues):
Preferred stock dividends		$ (3,189)	[3]	$ 0	$ 0

[1] In January 2017, NNN called for redemption of all outstanding shares of its Series D Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a Series D Preferred Stock share. The depositary shares will be redeemed on February 23, 2017.

[2] The Series E Preferred Stock has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed by NNN. The earliest redemption date for the Series E Preferred Stock is May 2018.

[3] The Series F Preferred Stock was issued October 11, 2016 and has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed by NNN. The earliest redemption date for the Series F preferred stock is October 2021.