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) gain on derivative instrument	(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	$ 0.3250
Statement [Line Items]
Shares issued, net of offering costs- shares		39,951,111
Shares issued, net of offering costs - value	357,240		40	357,200				357,240
Shares issued to affiliates - shares		1,052,462
Shares issued to affiliates - value	10,525		1	10,524				10,525
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	171								171
Distributions declared	(73,639)				(73,639)			(73,639)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11,326)								(11,326)
Net income	37,915				25,389			25,389	12,526
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(16,339)					(16,053)		(16,053)	(286)
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instrument	(2,916)					(3,066)		(3,066)	150
Change in unrealized appreciation on marketable securities	983					983		983
Repurchase of shares - shares		(703,010)
Repurchase of shares - value	(6,664)						(6,664)	(6,664)
Ending equity balance, value at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 2,023,409		$ 249	$ 2,230,951	$ (205,312)	$ (50,737)	$ (23,768)	$ 1,951,383	$ 72,026
Ending equity balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2012		246,449,381