CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests		$ 239,506	$ 197,961	$ 191,170
Adjustments to reconcile earnings including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		149,101	134,798	116,165
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries		11,294	4,420	823
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation		6,830	531	256
Amortization of notes payable discount		1,394	1,306	1,238
Amortization of debt costs		3,086	2,915	2,782
Amortization of mortgages payable premium		(147)	(207)	(93)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges		2,802	1,902	1,129
Settlement of forward starting swaps		13,345	(13,369)	(6,312)
Gain on disposition of real estate		(27,182)	(10,807)	(11,742)
Deferred income taxes		0	10,488	58
Performance incentive plan expense		11,401	10,474	9,841
Performance incentive plan payment		(581)	(676)	(2,808)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations:
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method		1,364	1,277	1,368
Decrease in mortgages, notes and accrued interest receivable		26	74	76
Decrease (increase) in receivables		(74)	(335)	16
Increase in accrued rental income		(252)	(368)	(1,731)
Decrease (increase) in other assets		1,663	4,996	(2,256)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable		(448)	2,717	254
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities		2,636	(6,610)	(4,746)
Other		(427)	(392)	1,245
Net cash provided by operating activities		415,337	341,095	296,733
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate		104,117	38,502	58,853
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method		(885,966)	(683,243)	(602,780)
Increase in mortgages and notes receivable		0	0	(7,246)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable		4,141	2,363	13,346
Other		(2,235)	(2,166)	(3,731)
Net cash used in investing activities		(779,943)	(644,544)	(541,558)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable		1,330,200	1,262,400	678,500
Repayment of line of credit payable		(1,330,200)	(1,262,400)	(724,900)
Repayment of mortgages payable		(9,962)	(2,035)	(1,151)
Proceeds from notes payable		346,140	399,036	349,293
Repayment of notes payable		0	(150,000)	(150,000)
Payment of debt costs		(3,362)	(3,654)	(6,321)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		278,040	332,117	360,072
Stock issuance costs		(15,204)	(4,198)	(10,726)
Payment of common stock dividends		(257,007)	(228,699)	(204,157)
Noncontrolling interest contributions		0	334	0
Noncontrolling interest distributions		(136)	(362)	(1,232)
Net cash provided by financing activities		644,886	307,105	253,944
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		280,280	3,656	9,119
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	[1]	14,260	10,604	1,485
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	[1]	294,540	14,260	10,604
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized		91,403	83,758	81,829
Taxes paid (received)		(155)	234	59
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issued 285,573, 285,263 and 386,433 shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, pursuant to NNN’s performance incentive plan		11,337	8,990	10,884
Surrender of 1,520 shares of restricted common stock in 2016		59	0	0
Change in other comprehensive income		12,161	11,694	4,153
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)		1,924	1,179	0
Mortgages payable assumed in connection with real estate transactions		0	0	17,254
Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions		0	500	62
Note receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions		0	0	70
Series D Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of preferred stock dividends		(19,047)	(19,047)	(19,047)
Series E Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of preferred stock dividends		(16,387)	(16,387)	(16,387)
Series F Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Series F preferred stock		345,000	0	0
Payment of preferred stock dividends		$ (3,189)	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year is the aggregate of Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN had restricted cash and cash held in escrow of $601 at December 31, 2015. NNN did not have restricted cash or cash held in escrow at December 31, 2016 and 2014.