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5wpc_PurchasePriceAdjustmentwpc_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse13000001300000falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the purchase price accounting adjustment made during the period.No definition available.false2Purchase price adjustment11true 4us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Disposition of Unconsolidated Real Estate Investment12false 5us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse14550001455000falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse180000180000falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20truefalsefalse29000002900000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow associated with the purchase of or advances to an equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3213-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Payments to acquire equity method investments13false 5us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSecuredDebtus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse9900000099000000falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse12500001250000falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20truefalsefalse1390000013900000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash inflow from amounts received from issuance of long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt secured debt.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3255-108585 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Proceeds from Issuance of Secured Debt14false 5us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSecuredDebtus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse121836000121836000falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse1026200010262000falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20truefalsefalse1710000017100000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt secured debt.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3291-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Repayments of Secured Debt15false 5us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20truefalsefalse2840000028400000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Proceeds from the sales of real estate investment16false 5us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestmentsus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse20truefalsefalse1950000019500000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 false2Gain on sale of real estate investmentfalseEquity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingNoRoundingUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.wpcarey.com/role/DisclosureEquityInvestmentInRealEstateAndTheManagedREITsNarrativesDetails2016