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LLC shares for shares of W.P.Carey Inc. in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, shares6falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*7false 5wpc_SharesIssuedInConnectionWithMergerValuewpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the value of the shares issued in connection with mergers that occured during the period.No definition available.false2Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, valueduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_SharesIssuedInConnectionWithMergerValuewpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse13803610001380361falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2800028falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse13803330001380333falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse13803610001380361falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the value of the shares issued in connection with mergers that occured during the period.No definition available.false2Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, value7falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*8false 5wpc_SharesIssuedInConnectionWithMergerShareswpc_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesRepresents the shares issued in connection with mergers that occured during the period.No definition available.false1Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, sharesduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_SharesIssuedInConnectionWithMergerShareswpc_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2817064328170643falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesRepresents the shares issued in connection with mergers that occured during the period.No definition available.false1Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:15 in connection with the CPA:15 Merger, shares8falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*9false 5wpc_PurchaseOfNoncontrollingInterestInEquitywpc_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe equity impact associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.No definition available.false2Purchase of noncontrolling interests in connection with CPA:15 Mergerduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_PurchaseOfNoncontrollingInterestInEquitywpc_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse237359000237359falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-154000-154falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse-154000-154falsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse237513000237513falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe equity impact associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.No definition available.false2Purchase of noncontrolling interests in connection with CPA:15 Merger9falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*10false 5wpc_ReclassificationOfEstateShareholderShareswpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReclassification of estate securities.No definition available.false2Reclassification of Estate shareholder sharesduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_ReclassificationOfEstateShareholderShareswpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-40000000-40000falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-40000000-40000falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse-40000000-40000falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReclassification of estate securities.No definition available.false2Reclassification of Estate shareholder shares10falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*11false 5us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders to acquire the entity's shares under incentive and share awards other than stock option exercises. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph i -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. 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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 false2Shares issued under share incentive plans - valueduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlanus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse646000646falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse646000646falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse646000646falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate change in value for stock issued during the period as a result of employee stock purchase plan.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. 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This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Distributions declared24falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*25false 5wpc_PurchaseOfTreasuryStockFromRelatedPartyValuewpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTreasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued to related partties, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.No definition available.false2Purchase of treasury stock from related party (Note 3), valueduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_PurchaseOfTreasuryStockFromRelatedPartyValuewpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-45270000-45270falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8truefalsefalse-45270000-45270falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse-45270000-45270falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTreasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued to related partties, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.No definition available.false2Purchase of treasury stock from related party (Note 3), value25falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*26false 5wpc_PurchaseOfTreasuryStockFromRelatedPartyShareswpc_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabelxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesTreasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued to related partties, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.No definition available.false1Purchase of treasury stock from related parties (Note 3), sharesduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_PurchaseOfTreasuryStockFromRelatedPartyShareswpc_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-561418-561418falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-416408-416408falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesTreasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued to related partties, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.No definition available.false1Purchase of treasury stock from related parties (Note 3), shares26falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*27false 5us-gaap_TreasuryStockRetiredCostMethodAmountus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of decrease of par value, additional paid in capital (APIC) and retained earnings of common and preferred stock retired from treasury when treasury stock is accounted for under the cost method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. 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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 false1Cancelation of shares, shares28falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*30false 5wpc_NetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest.No definition available.false2Net incomeduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0wpc_NetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse6273900062739falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse6213200062132falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse6213200062132falsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse607000607falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest.No definition available.false2Net income29trueRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*31true 5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabelxbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Other comprehensive incomeduration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Other comprehensive income30falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*32false 6wpc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTaxwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax and reclassification adjustments of the change in the balance sheet adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity including the portion attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest. 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Also includes the following: gain (loss) on foreign currency forward exchange contracts; foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; and gain (loss) on a derivative instrument or nonderivative financial instrument that may give rise to a foreign currency transaction gain (loss) that has been designated and qualified as a hedging instrument for hedging of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation.No definition available.false2Foreign currency translation adjustmentsduration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00 0wpc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTaxwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse-4637000-4637falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7truefalsefalse-3590000-3590falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse-3590000-3590falsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse-1047000-1047falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax and reclassification adjustments of the change in the balance sheet adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity including the portion attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest. Also includes the following: gain (loss) on foreign currency forward exchange contracts; foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; and gain (loss) on a derivative instrument or nonderivative financial instrument that may give rise to a foreign currency transaction gain (loss) that has been designated and qualified as a hedging instrument for hedging of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation.No definition available.false2Foreign currency translation adjustments53falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*33false 6wpc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTaxwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax amount, before reclassification adjustments, of the change in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Also includes an entity's share including the portion attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).No definition available.false2Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instrumentsduration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00 0wpc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodIncludingPortionAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTaxwpc_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse52550005255falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7truefalsefalse52550005255falsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse52550005255falsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax amount, before reclassification adjustments, of the change in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Also includes an entity's share including the portion attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).No definition available.false2Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments54falseRowperiodPeriod*RowprimaryElement*35false 5us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodEndLabelxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 26 -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. 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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 falseinstant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:001Ending equity balance - shares at Jun. 30, 2013trueConsolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $)ThousandsNoRoundingUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.wpcarey.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfEquityUnaudited1055