Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2018 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests -- Operating Partnership	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Dividends in Excess of Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net	Total Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Partnership	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures	Total Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 11,049,450	$ 53,902	$ 1,249,560	$ 2,044	$ 11,261,461	$ (2,055,552)	$ (108,432)	$ 10,349,081	$ 698,126	$ 2,243	$ 700,369
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017				205,470,300
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of common units to common stock				$ 4	35,823			35,827	(35,827)		(35,827)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)				406,639
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)				193,118
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	(652)				(652)			(652)
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	2,509				2,509			2,509
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)				31,893
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(4,718)			$ (1)	(4,717)			(4,718)
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (shares)				(46,833)
Amortization of share-based compensation	17,458				17,458			17,458
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					(2,847)			(2,847)	2,847		2,847
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	1,097	(1,097)			1,097			1,097
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(40,658)					(40,658)		(40,658)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(433,206)					(416,086)		(416,086)	(17,120)		(17,120)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	62									62	62
Net income	198,254					192,090		192,090	6,180	(16)	6,164
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	(10,976)						(10,550)	(10,550)	(426)		(426)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges	13,411						12,891	12,891	520		520
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(1,018)						(979)	(979)	(39)		(39)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	10,796,928	$ 52,805	$ 1,249,560	$ 2,047	$ 11,310,132	(2,314,291)	$ (107,070)	10,140,378	$ 654,261	$ 2,289	$ 656,550
Ending balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018				206,055,117
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ 5,915					$ 5,915		$ 5,915