Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									$ 54,317	$ 3,292
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(57,720)	(230)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(700)	(1,136)	(1,248)	3,773	(324)	(66)	0	0	689	(390)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global	(26,238)	(10,601)	(4,358)	(14,670)	(428)	(138)	(65)	0	(55,867)	(631)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	941,357				171,664				941,357	171,664
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	521,712				85,060				521,712	85,060
Domestic
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									29,042	3,008
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(15,608)	(127)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(2,568)	(361)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(18,270)	(489)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	499,096				119,335				499,096	119,335
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	284,150				85,060				284,150	85,060
Domestic | Texas
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									8,830	2,999
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									416	566
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(804)	(293)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(464)	272
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	122,965				96,437				122,965	96,437
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	83,226				72,800				83,226	72,800
Domestic | Illinois
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									6,307
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(4,242)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(4,242)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	33,999								33,999
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	55,250								55,250
Domestic | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									13,905	9
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(11,782)	(693)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(1,764)	(68)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(13,564)	(761)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	342,132				22,898				342,132	22,898
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	145,674				12,260				145,674	12,260
International
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									25,275	284
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(42,112)	(103)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									3,257	(29)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(37,597)	(142)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	442,261				52,329				442,261	52,329
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	237,562				0				237,562	0
International | Poland
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									9,586
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(12,920)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									3,349
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(9,571)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	97,707								97,707
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	64,852								64,852
International | Croatia
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									7,511	284
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,711)	(155)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(397)	(45)
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(1,684)	(210)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	45,076				52,418				45,076	52,418
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	37,039				0				37,039	0
International | Norway
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									6,560
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(6,291)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									321
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(6,943)
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	138,676								138,676
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	91,250								91,250
International | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues									1,618	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(21,190)	52
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16)	16
Net Loss Attributable to CPA®:18 – Global									(19,399)	68
Assets
Long-lived assets (c)	160,802				(89)				160,802	(89)
Non-recourse debt and bonds payable	$ 44,421				$ 0				$ 44,421	$ 0