CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$ 255,915,000	$ 193,186,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		130,280,000	129,878,000
Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries		9,718,000	1,245,000
Amortization of notes payable discount		1,401,000	1,330,000
Amortization of debt costs		2,695,000	2,611,000
Amortization of mortgages payable premium		(64,000)	(65,000)
Amortization of interest rate hedges		1,581,000	1,394,000
Settlement of forward starting swaps		4,080,000	(7,688,000)
Gain on disposition of real estate		(57,050,000)	(20,864,000)
Performance incentive plan expense		7,231,000	12,100,000
Performance incentive plan payment		(432,000)	(862,000)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method		655,000	661,000
Decrease (increase) in receivables		1,554,000	(77,000)
Increase in accrued rental income		(871,000)	(1,199,000)
Increase in other assets		(1,052,000)	(353,000)
Increase in accrued interest payable		14,987,000	17,390,000
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities		(4,848,000)	1,659,000
Other		(272,000)	(131,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities		365,508,000	330,215,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate		121,810,000	56,279,000
Additions to real estate:
Accounted for using the operating method		(415,118,000)	(471,396,000)
Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable		0	500,000
Other		(433,000)	(558,000)
Net cash used in investing activities		(293,741,000)	(415,175,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable		1,599,500,000	956,700,000
Repayment of line of credit payable		(1,720,000,000)	(956,700,000)
Repayment of mortgages payable		(400,000)	(379,000)
Proceeds from notes payable		692,913,000	398,372,000
Payment of debt costs		(5,506,000)	(3,237,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		220,524,000	174,499,000
Stock issuance costs		(2,908,000)	(2,618,000)
Redemption of Series D preferred stock		0	(287,500,000)
Payment of common stock dividends		(223,836,000)	(205,110,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities		534,541,000	44,683,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		606,308,000	(40,277,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	[1]	1,364,000	294,540,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	[1]	607,672,000	254,263,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized		62,806,000	61,126,000
Taxes received		0	(3,000)
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in other comprehensive income		(5,726,000)	6,176,000
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)		565,000	696,000
Change in lease classification (operating lease to direct financing lease)		258,000	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		0	(3,598,000)
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)	$ (13,455,000)

[1] Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash is the aggregate of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN had no restricted cash and cash held in escrow at September 30, 2018 and 2017.