Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessor's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479773/842-30-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of tenants occupying the real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wpc_NumberOfTenants
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The occupancy rate of our owned real estate properties as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wpc_OccupancyRate
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	dtr-types1:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Business Disclosures

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wpc_OtherBusinessDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Conversion Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wpc_ShareConversionRate
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfByMeansOtherThanSaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsSpinoffMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=srt_OfficeBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_SpinoffMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wpc_OwnedRealEstateSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=wpc_OperatingPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=wpc_SelfStorageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=srt_HotelMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=wpc_StudentHousingPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wpc_InvestmentManagementSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=srt_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=wpc_ManagedProgramsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=wpc_BuilttoSuitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Business and Organization (Details) ft² in Millions	9 Months Ended
Business and Organization (Details) ft² in Millions	Sep. 30, 2023 ft² property tenant	Nov. 01, 2023 property $ / shares	Oct. 31, 2023 property
Subsequent Events \| Spinoff
Additional disclosures
Share conversion rate (per share) \| $ / shares		$ 0.0667
Office Property \| Spinoff
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	87
Office Property \| Spinoff
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	59
Office Property \| Subsequent Events \| Spinoff
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)		59	59
Real Estate
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	1,472
Square footage of real estate properties \| ft²	179.0
Number of tenants (tenant) \| tenant	395
Lease term (in years)	11 years
Occupancy rate (as a percent)	98.90%
Real Estate \| Operating Properties
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	98
Square footage of real estate properties \| ft²	7.5
Real Estate \| Self- Storage
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	86
Real Estate \| Hotel
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	10
Real Estate \| Student Housing
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	2
Investment Management \| Affiliated Entity \| Managed Programs \| Built-to-suit
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties (property)	1