CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings including noncontrolling interests		$ 193,186,000	$ 173,381,000
Adjustments to reconcile earnings including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		129,878,000	110,114,000
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries		1,245,000	10,949,000
Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation		0	6,830,000
Amortization of notes payable discount		1,330,000	1,030,000
Amortization of debt costs		2,611,000	2,276,000
Amortization of mortgages payable premium		(65,000)	(126,000)
Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges		1,394,000	2,122,000
Settlement of forward starting swaps		(7,688,000)	0
Gain on disposition of real estate		(20,864,000)	(22,558,000)
Performance incentive plan expense		12,100,000	8,714,000
Performance incentive plan payment		(862,000)	(581,000)
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		661,000	1,054,000
Decrease (increase) in receivables		(77,000)	871,000
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income		(1,199,000)	21,000
Increase in other assets		(353,000)	(227,000)
Increase in accrued interest payable		17,390,000	12,679,000
Increase in other liabilities		1,659,000	8,315,000
Other		(131,000)	(658,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities		330,215,000	314,206,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate		56,279,000	83,722,000
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method		(471,396,000)	(637,603,000)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable		500,000	468,000
Other		(558,000)	(2,010,000)
Net cash used in investing activities		(415,175,000)	(555,423,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable		956,700,000	1,090,200,000
Repayment of line of credit payable		(956,700,000)	(906,000,000)
Repayment of mortgages payable		(379,000)	(7,125,000)
Proceeds from notes payable		398,372,000	0
Payment of debt costs		(3,237,000)	(159,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		174,499,000	277,076,000
Stock issuance costs		(2,618,000)	(4,266,000)
Redemption of Series D preferred stock		(287,500,000)	0
Payment of common stock dividends		(205,110,000)	(190,277,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities		44,683,000	232,873,000
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(40,277,000)	(8,344,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	[1]	294,540,000	14,260,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	[1]	254,263,000	5,916,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized		61,126,000	55,185,000
Taxes received		(3,000)	(49,000)
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in other comprehensive income		6,176,000	719,000
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)		696,000	0
Restricted cash and cash held in escrow		0	0
Series D Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		(3,598,000)	(14,285,000)
Series E Depositary Share
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		(12,291,000)	(12,291,000)
Series F Preferred Stock
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of Series D, E and F preferred stock dividends		$ (13,455,000)	$ 0

[1] Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period is the aggregate of Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN had no restricted cash and cash held in escrow at September 30, 2017 and 2016.