Statement of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Total Outstanding Shares Member	Common Stock Member USD ($)	Additional Paid In Capital Member USD ($)	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Member USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Member USD ($)	Treasury Stock Member USD ($)	Total CPA 17 Global Shareholders USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest Member USD ($)
Beginning equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 729,137		$ 82	$ 718,057	$ (53,118)	$ (4,902)	$ (2,314)	$ 657,805	$ 71,332
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		79,886,568
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		62,643,431
Shares issued, net of offering costs - value	557,895		60	557,835				557,895
Shares issued to affiliates - value	4,562		1	4,561				4,562
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		453,121
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	412								412
Distributions declared	(70,782)				(70,782)			(70,782)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(12,959)								(12,959)
Net Income	45,787				30,454			30,454	15,333
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(7,438)					(6,660)		(6,660)	(778)
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(4,375)					(3,381)		(3,381)	(994)
Repurchase of shares - shares	(616,158)
Repurchase of shares - value	(5,730)						(5,730)	(5,730)
Stock Transactions Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.64
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	1,236,509		143	1,280,453	(93,446)	(14,943)	(8,044)	1,164,163	72,346
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		142,366,962
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		33,878,588
Shares issued, net of offering costs - value	304,031		33	303,998				304,031
Shares issued to affiliates - value	5,286		2	5,284				5,286
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		530,631
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,185								1,185
Distributions declared	(51,131)				(51,131)			(51,131)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(12,625)								(12,625)
Net Income	34,651				25,278			25,278	9,373
Foreign currency translation adjustments	46,593					45,748		45,748	845
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(6,005)					(5,891)		(5,891)	(114)
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	(15)
Repurchase of shares - shares	(443,499)
Repurchase of shares - value	(4,155)						(4,155)	(4,155)
Stock Transactions Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.3225
Ending equity balance, value at Jun. 30, 2011	$ 1,554,324		$ 178	$ 1,589,735	$ (119,299)	$ 24,899	$ (12,199)	$ 1,483,314	$ 71,010
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2011		176,332,682