Statement of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Total Outstanding Shares [Member]	Common Stock USD ($)	Additional Paid In Capital [Member] USD ($)	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss USD ($)	Treasury Stock USD ($)	Total CPA 17 Global Shareholders USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest 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
Proceeds from Issuance Follow On Offering, Value	557,895		60	557,835				557,895
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		453,121
Shares issued to affiliates - value	4,562		1	4,561				4,562
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
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
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)
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	0
Repurchase of shares - shares		(616,158)
Repurchase of shares - value	(5,730)						(5,730)	(5,730)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010			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		63,628,957
Proceeds from Issuance Follow On Offering, Value	571,655		63	571,592				571,655
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		1,114,867
Shares issued to affiliates - value	11,184		2	11,182				11,184
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,197								1,197
Distributions declared	(113,271)				(113,271)			(113,271)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(23,214)								(23,214)
Net income	70,446				49,655			49,655	20,791
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(12,753)					(12,533)		(12,533)	(220)
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(5,219)					(5,110)		(5,110)	(109)
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	(15)					(15)		(15)
Repurchase of shares - shares		(961,968)
Repurchase of shares - value	(9,060)						(9,060)	(9,060)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	1,727,459		208	1,863,227	(157,062)	(32,601)	(17,104)	1,656,668	70,791
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		206,148,818
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		100,529,436
Proceeds from Issuance Follow On Offering, Value	903,229		100	903,129				903,229
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		2,043,451
Shares issued to affiliates - value	20,501		2	20,499				20,501
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	762								762
Distributions declared	(161,773)				(161,773)			(161,773)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(24,427)								(24,427)
Net income	68,153				41,611			41,611	26,542
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	13,515					13,323		13,323	192
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(16,758)					(17,123)		(17,123)	365
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	1,035					1,035		1,035
Repurchase of shares - shares		(1,818,685)
Repurchase of shares - value	(17,189)						(17,189)	(17,189)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,514,507		$ 310	$ 2,786,855	$ (277,224)	$ (35,366)	$ (34,293)	$ 2,440,282	$ 74,225
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		306,903,020