Segment Reporting - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	$ 113,282	$ 123,005
Operating expenses	(67,684)	(59,615)
Interest expense	(20,550)	(23,390)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	8,686	6,028
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	1,403	(621)
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	24	1,739
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,424)	(9,135)
Net income attributable to CPA:17 – Global	26,737	38,011
Operating Segments | Net Lease
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	96,992	112,523
Operating expenses	(41,957)	(41,308)
Interest expense	(17,692)	(20,651)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	4,559	3,459
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(404)	614
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	24	1,739
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,115)	(2,325)
Net income attributable to CPA:17 – Global	38,407	54,051
Operating Segments | Self Storage
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	9,045	8,742
Operating expenses	(5,448)	(7,199)
Interest expense	(1,911)	(2,003)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	0	(2)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(48)	(32)
Net income attributable to CPA:17 – Global	1,638	(494)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Revenues	7,245	1,740
Operating expenses	(9,520)	(38)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	571	(2,408)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	2,078	(650)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	861	0
Net income attributable to CPA:17 – Global	1,235	(1,356)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,170)	(6,810)
Unallocated Corporate Overhead	$ (8,373)	$ (7,380)