Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 28, 2012 CPA: 15	Dec. 31, 2012 CPA: 15
Total Consideration
Fair value of W.P.Carey shares of common stock issued						$ 1,380,362	$ 1,380,362
Cash consideration	13,748	0	152,356	0		152,356	152,356
Fair value of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC equity interest in CPA:15 prior to the CPA:15 Merger						107,147	107,147
Fair value of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC equity interest in jointly-owned investments with CPA:15 prior to the CPA:15 Merger						54,822	54,822
Total Consideration						1,694,687	1,694,687
Assets Acquired at Fair Value
Investments in real estate	33,625					1,762,872
Net investments in direct financing leases		363,420	376,005			315,789	315,789
Equity investments in real estate		530,020	565,626			166,247	166,247
Goodwill		350,208	329,132	63,607	63,607	268,683	268,683
Intangible assets						695,310	695,310
Other assets	1,170					81,750	81,750
Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value
Non-recourse debt		(1,492,410)	(1,715,397)			(1,350,755)	(1,350,755)
Below-market rent intangibles	(1,618)					(102,155)	(102,155)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities						(84,640)	(84,640)
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests						(237,359)	(237,359)
Net assets acquired excluding cash						1,515,742
Cash acquired on acquisition of subsidiaries						$ 178,945	$ (178,945)