Statement of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Total Outstanding Shares [Member]	Common Stock Member USD ($)	Additional Paid In Capital Member USD ($)	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Member USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Member USD ($)	Treasury Stock Member USD ($)	Total CPA 17 Global Shareholders USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest Member USD ($)
Beginning 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
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		142,366,962
Stock Transactions Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.6475
Statement [Line Items]
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		63,628,957
Shares issued, net of offering costs - 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
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
Stock Transactions Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract]
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.1607
Statement [Line Items]
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		19,383,918
Shares issued, net of offering costs - value	173,772		19	173,753				173,772
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		580,828
Shares issued to affiliates - value	5,808		1	5,807				5,808
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	172								172
Distributions declared	(35,105)				(35,105)			(35,105)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,053)								(5,053)
Net income	16,763				11,123			11,123	5,640
Foreign currency translation adjustments	20,334					20,040		20,040	294
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(5,590)					(5,651)		(5,651)	61
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	0
Repurchase of shares - shares		0
Repurchase of shares - value	0						0	0
Ending equity balance, value at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 1,898,560		$ 228	$ 2,042,787	$ (181,044)	$ (18,212)	$ (17,104)	$ 1,826,655	$ 71,905
Ending equity balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2012		226,113,564