Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	$ 110,076	$ 108,202	$ 326,487	$ 316,620
Operating expenses (a)	(87,442)	(54,253)	(203,684)	(162,156)
Interest expense	(25,048)	(24,104)	(75,027)	(69,346)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	(10,495)	1,030	39,955	9,542
Provision for income taxes	(2,333)	(1,676)	(6,530)	(4,441)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	82,287	0	132,702	2,197
Net income	(8,827)	(9,147)	(28,404)	(29,345)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	58,218	20,052	185,499	63,071
Operating Segments | Net Lease
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	98,243	92,081	286,214	271,705
Operating expenses (a)	(68,453)	(33,831)	(139,970)	(100,733)
Interest expense	(22,302)	(21,762)	(66,583)	(63,561)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	3,592	2,292	9,324	9,365
Provision for income taxes	(590)	(1,038)	(2,570)	(2,584)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	0	0	0	2,197
Net income	(3,551)	(3,310)	(10,601)	(11,655)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	6,939	34,432	75,814	104,734
Operating Segments | Self-Storage
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	10,135	11,898	35,213	34,380
Operating expenses (a)	(7,717)	(8,002)	(28,632)	(24,049)
Interest expense	(2,211)	(1,927)	(6,746)	(5,729)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	(15,991)	(403)	25,905	(1,428)
Provision for income taxes	(16)	(46)	(133)	(153)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	82,287	0	132,702	0
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	66,487	1,520	158,309	3,021
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	1,698	4,219	5,060	10,530
Operating expenses (a)	(29)	(38)	(81)	(1,682)
Interest expense	0	(47)	(6)	446
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	(603)	(3,327)	(2,999)	(1,138)
Provision for income taxes	(1,442)	(480)	(3,373)	(1,278)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global	(376)	327	(1,399)	6,878
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Net income	(5,276)	(5,837)	(17,803)	(17,690)
Unallocated Corporate Overhead	$ (9,556)	$ (10,390)	$ (29,422)	$ (33,872)