Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 399,898	$ 447,042	$ 484,691	$ 429,593	$ 462,490	$ 341,255	$ 292,284	$ 260,232	$ 1,761,224	$ 1,356,261	$ 1,159,995
Net income	27,918	74,657	64,393	23,894	7,387	4,111	42,464	21,777
Comprehensive income attributable to RLJ	$ 5,146	$ 78,650	$ 70,650	$ 41,546	$ 15,086	$ 5,660	$ 40,531	$ 27,306	$ 195,992	$ 88,583	$ 212,052
Basic per share data (1):
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 0.10	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.34	$ 0.17	$ 0.93	$ 0.47	$ 1.61
Diluted per share data (1):
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 0.10	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.34	$ 0.17	$ 0.93	$ 0.47	$ 1.61
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	174,141,263	174,326,198	174,238,854	174,193,671	174,147,522	140,249,961	123,785,735	123,734,173	174,225,130	140,616,838	123,651,003
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	174,194,141	174,479,341	174,364,547	174,268,815	174,210,578	140,307,269	123,871,762	123,841,400	174,316,405	140,694,049	123,879,007