Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	$ 109,185	$ 109,667	$ 216,411	$ 208,417
Operating expenses	(60,037)	(53,795)	(116,242)	(107,903)
Interest expense	(25,368)	(23,216)	(49,979)	(45,241)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	44,738	8,692	50,450	8,513
Provision for income taxes	(2,294)	(1,973)	(4,197)	(2,764)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	25,017	0	50,415	2,197
Net income	(9,383)	(10,935)	(19,577)	(20,199)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	81,858	28,440	127,281	43,020
Operating Segments | Net Lease
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	94,566	94,221	187,971	179,624
Operating expenses	(35,299)	(34,102)	(71,517)	(66,902)
Interest expense	(22,148)	(21,351)	(44,281)	(41,798)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	2,976	3,327	5,732	7,071
Provision for income taxes	(2,128)	(1,728)	(3,903)	(2,272)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	0	0	0	2,197
Net income	(3,524)	(5,146)	(7,050)	(8,346)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	34,443	35,221	66,952	69,574
Operating Segments | Self-Storage
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	13,017	11,434	25,078	22,482
Operating expenses	(13,053)	(7,926)	(20,915)	(16,047)
Interest expense	(2,643)	(1,925)	(4,535)	(3,803)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	44,828	(547)	41,896	(1,024)
Provision for income taxes	(54)	(61)	(117)	(107)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	25,017	0	50,415	0
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	67,112	975	91,822	1,501
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	1,602	4,012	3,362	6,311
Operating expenses	(17)	(535)	(52)	(1,643)
Interest expense	(3)	120	(6)	493
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	(2,302)	1,880	(2,397)	2,189
Provision for income taxes	(4)	(35)	(8)	(72)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	(724)	5,442	899	7,278
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Net income	(5,859)	(5,789)	(12,527)	(11,853)
Unallocated Corporate Overhead	$ (13,114)	$ (7,409)	$ (19,865)	$ (23,480)