Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	No Par Value Common Stock	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings USD ($)	Deferred Compensation Obligation USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) USD ($)	Treasury Stock USD ($)	Total W.P. Carey Members USD ($)	Noncontrolling interest USD ($)
Balance - beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 665,474			$ 763,734	$ (145,769)	$ 10,511	$ (3,463)		$ 625,013	$ 40,461
Beginning equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2010		39,454,847
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(7,491)			(5,879)					(5,879)	(1,612)
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, value	1,488			1,488					1,488
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, shares		45,674
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, value	700					700			700
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares		5,285
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares		576,148
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,223									3,223
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	2,569			2,569					2,569
Forfeitures of shares - value	(274)			(274)					(274)
Forfeitures of shares - shares		(3,562)
Stock-based compensation expense	17,290			21,739		(4,449)			17,290
Repurchase and retirement of shares - value	(4,761)			(4,761)					(4,761)
Repurchase and retirement of shares - shares		(349,374)
Redemption value adjustment	455			455					455
Distributions	(6,000)									(6,000)
Distributions declared	(88,055)				(88,356)	301			(88,055)
Net income	137,215				139,079				139,079	(1,864)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,832)						(1,445)		(1,445)	(387)
Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(3,588)						(3,588)		(3,588)
Change in unrealized depreciation on marketable securities	(11)						(11)		(11)
Balance - end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	716,402			779,071	(95,046)	7,063	(8,507)		682,581	33,821
Ending equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2011		39,729,018
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Exchange of shares of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC shares for shares of W.P.Carey Inc. in connection with the CPA:15 Merger,value			40	(40)
Exchange of shares of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC shares for shares of W.P.Carey Inc. in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, shares		(39,834,827)	39,834,827
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, value	1,380,361		28	1,380,333					1,380,361
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, shares			28,170,643
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	237,359			(154)					(154)	237,513
Reclassification of Estate shareholder shares	(40,000)			(40,000)					(40,000)
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, value	1,553			1,553					1,553
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, shares		30,993	13,768
Cash proceeds on issuance of shares to third party, value	45,000		1	44,999					45,000
Cash proceeds on issuance of shares to third party, shares			937,500
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares		427,425	3,822
Shares issued under share incentive plans, value	646			646					646
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares		238,728	27,044
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,291									3,291
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	10,185			10,185					10,185
Forfeitures of shares - shares		(29,919)
Stock-based compensation expense	26,038			25,067		971			26,038
Redemption value adjustment	(840)			(840)					(840)
Distributions	(6,649)									(6,649)
Distributions declared	(138,944)				(139,268)	324			(138,944)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party (Note 4), value	(45,270)							(45,270)	(45,270)
Purchase of treasury stock from related parties (Note 4), shares		(561,418)	(416,408)
Cancellation of shares, value				(25,000)				25,000
Cancellation of shares, shares			(85,671)
Net income	62,739				62,132				62,132	607
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,721						6,127		6,127	1,594
Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(2,262)						(2,262)		(2,262)
Change in unrealized depreciation on marketable securities	(7)						(7)		(7)
Balance - end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	2,257,323		69	2,175,820	(172,182)	8,358	(4,649)	(20,270)	1,987,146	270,177
Ending equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2012	68,485,525	0	68,485,525
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Reclassification of Estate shareholder shares	40,000			40,000					40,000
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, value	2,312			2,312					2,312
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, shares			55,423
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares			295,304
Shares issued under share incentive plans, value	(9,183)			(9,183)					(9,183)
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares			47,289
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	65,145									65,145
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	12,817			12,817					12,817
Stock-based compensation expense	37,196			34,737		2,459			37,196
Distributions	(71,820)									(71,820)
Distributions declared	(244,734)				(245,271)	537			(244,734)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party (Note 4), value	(40,000)							(40,000)	(40,000)
Purchase of treasury stock from related parties (Note 4), shares			(616,971)
Foreign currency translation	(5)									(5)
Net income	131,812				98,876				98,876	32,936
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	21,848						19,965		19,965	1,883
Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments	20						20		20
Balance - end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 2,202,731		$ 69	$ 2,256,503	$ (318,577)	$ 11,354	$ 15,336	$ (60,270)	$ 1,904,415	$ 298,316
Ending equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2013	68,266,570	0	68,266,570