Cover page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Jan. 28, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-11290
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-1431377
Entity Address, Address Line One	450 South Orange Avenue, Suite 900
Entity Address, City or Town	Orlando
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	32801
City Area Code	407
Local Phone Number	265-7348
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 6,111,300,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		175,272,901
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Registrant incorporates by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K portions of National Retail Properties, Inc.’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Entity Central Index Key	0000751364
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	NNN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing one-hundredth of a share of 5.200% Series F Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing one-hundredth of a share of 5.200% Series F Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	NNN/PF
Security Exchange Name	NYSE