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

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in the taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow from the acquisition of a piece of land, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it and so forth; includes real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes real estate acquired for use by the owner.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-13

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=wpc_SelfStorageInLittleRockArkansasMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=wpc_SelfStorageInHoustonTexasMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Land, Buildings and Improvements, and Assets Held for Sale - Operating Property Investments (Details) $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
	Aug. 25, 2023 USD ($) property	Jun. 22, 2023 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties
Payment to acquire real estate			$ 908,271	$ 1,013,950
Operating Real Estate
Real Estate Properties
Number of real estate properties (property) \| property			2
Payment to acquire real estate			$ 19,286
Little Rock, Arkansas \| Operating Real Estate
Real Estate Properties
Number of real estate properties (property) \| property		1
Payment to acquire real estate		$ 6,166
Funding commitment		$ 3,600
Houston, Texas \| Operating Real Estate
Real Estate Properties
Number of real estate properties (property) \| property	1
Payment to acquire real estate	$ 13,120