Segment Reporting - Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	$ 110,740	$ 107,396	$ 106,513	$ 123,005	$ 113,875	$ 110,076	$ 109,185	$ 107,226	$ 447,654	$ 440,362	$ 426,947
Operating expenses	(65,817)	(53,313)	(55,581)	(59,615)	(60,118)	(87,442)	(60,037)	(56,205)	(234,326)	(263,802)	(218,892)
Interest expense									(88,270)	(98,813)	(93,551)
Other income and (expenses), excluding interest expense									7,719	27,080	16,304
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes									513	(8,477)	(8,885)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax									2,879	132,858	2,197
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9,747)	(9,081)	(10,919)	(9,135)	(10,459)	(8,827)	(9,383)	(10,194)	(38,882)	(38,863)	(39,915)
Net Income Attributable to CPA:17 – Global	$ 3,741	$ 24,729	$ 30,806	$ 38,011	$ 4,846	$ 58,218	$ 81,858	$ 45,423	97,287	190,345	84,205
Operating Segments | Net Lease
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues									397,766	389,709	366,904
Operating expenses									(157,206)	(180,376)	(136,838)
Interest expense									(77,503)	(87,703)	(85,138)
Other income and (expenses), excluding interest expense									5,839	10,412	18,508
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes									(718)	(2,887)	(7,458)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax									2,872	0	2,197
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(13,530)	(14,098)	(15,247)
Net Income Attributable to CPA:17 – Global									157,520	115,057	142,928
Operating Segments | Self-Storage
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues									35,935	43,979	46,418
Operating expenses									(26,235)	(36,094)	(32,575)
Interest expense									(7,638)	(8,744)	(7,655)
Other income and (expenses), excluding interest expense									(260)	25,920	(1,858)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes									(163)	(183)	(167)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax									7	132,858	0
Net Income Attributable to CPA:17 – Global									1,646	157,736	4,163
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues									13,953	6,674	13,625
Operating expenses									(5,482)	(633)	(1,712)
Interest expense									0	(5)	404
Other income and (expenses), excluding interest expense									(23,428)	(8,419)	(1,691)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes									2,741	(4,671)	(150)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									1,323	0	0
Net Income Attributable to CPA:17 – Global									(10,893)	(7,054)	10,476
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Unallocated Corporate Overhead									(24,311)	(50,629)	(48,694)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									$ (26,675)	$ (24,765)	$ (24,668)