Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total W.P. Carey Members	Noncontrolling interest
Balance - beginning 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
Beginning equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2012		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 interest	65,145								65,145
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	12,817		12,817					12,817
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	37,196		34,737		2,459			37,196
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(71,820)								(71,820)
Distributions declared	(244,734)			(245,271)	537			(244,734)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, value	(40,000)						(40,000)	(40,000)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, 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 gain 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	68,266,570
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:16 in connection with the CPA:16 Merger, value	1,815,521	31	1,815,490					1,815,521
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:16 in connection with the CPA:16 Merger, shares		30,729,878
Shares issued in connection with public offering, value	282,162	5						282,162
Proceeds from issuance of shares in public offering	282,586		282,157
Shares issued in connection with public offering, shares		4,600,000
Purchase of the remaining interests in less-than-wholly-owned investments that we already consolidate in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger	(280,936)		(41,374)					(41,374)	(239,562)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger	99,757								99,757
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, value	1,220		1,220					1,220
Exercise of stock options and employee purchase under the employee share purchase plan, shares		24,725
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares, value	(15,736)		(15,736)					(15,736)
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares		368,347
Shares issued under share incentive plans, value	(849)		(849)					(849)
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares		35,683
Deferral of vested shares			(15,428)		15,428
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	379								379
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	5,449		5,449					5,449
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	22,979		22,979					22,979
Redemption value adjustment	306		306					306
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(15,270)								(15,270)
Distributions declared	(279,770)		3,179	(286,791)	3,842			(279,770)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, value	(678)						(678)	(678)
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, shares		(11,037)
Foreign currency translation	50								50
Net income	211,166			206,252				206,252	4,914
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(52,145)					(48,194)		(48,194)	(3,951)
Realized and unrealized gain on derivative instruments	11,587					11,587		11,587
Balance - end of period at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 4,007,923	$ 105	$ 4,313,896	$ (399,116)	$ 30,624	$ (21,271)	$ (60,948)	$ 3,863,290	$ 144,633
Ending equity balance - shares at Sep. 30, 2014	104,014,166	104,014,166