Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 95,617	$ 91,619	$ 88,993	$ 86,725	$ 89,083	$ 68,141	$ 67,565	$ 64,764	$ 362,954	$ 289,553	$ 192,221
Expenses	60,681	58,622	49,011	48,725	61,871	35,160	33,897	32,676	217,039	163,604	84,386
Net Income	14,785	11,541	20,735	22,108	11,309	18,929	21,152	16,763	69,169	68,153	70,446
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,572)	(6,515)	(7,932)	(7,286)	(7,382)	(6,634)	(6,886)	(5,640)	(29,305)	(26,542)	(20,791)
Net income attributable to CPA:17 - Global	$ 7,213	$ 5,026	$ 12,803	$ 14,822	$ 3,927	$ 12,295	$ 14,266	$ 11,123	$ 39,864	$ 41,611	$ 49,655
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share attributable to CPA:17 - Global (usd per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.01	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.05	$ 0.13	$ 0.17	$ 0.28
Distributions declared per share	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.1625	$ 0.6500	$ 0.6500	$ 0.6475