Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity - 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ 5,915					$ 5,915		$ 5,915
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				$ 6	49,690			49,696	(49,696)		(49,696)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)				567,792
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)				206,264
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	(1,292)				(1,292)			(1,292)
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	5,874				5,874			5,874
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)				69,532
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(4,952)			$ (1)	(4,951)			(4,952)
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (shares)				(46,833)
Amortization of share-based compensation	25,213				25,213			25,213
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					(3,631)			(3,631)	3,631		3,631
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	36,349	(36,349)			671			671	35,678		35,678
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(60,987)					(60,987)		(60,987)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(649,810)					(624,252)		(624,252)	(25,558)		(25,558)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	63,745									63,745	63,745
Net income	288,518					279,687		279,687	8,880	(49)	8,831
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	(8,608)						(8,272)	(8,272)	(336)		(336)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	16,336						15,705	15,705	631		631
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(2,289)						(2,202)	(2,202)	(87)		(87)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 10,763,462	$ 17,553	$ 1,249,560	$ 2,049	$ 11,333,035	$ (2,455,189)	$ (103,201)	$ 10,026,254	$ 671,269	$ 65,939	$ 737,208
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018				206,267,055