Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Aug. 01, 2022
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38597
Entity Registrant Name	The Necessity Retail REIT, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	90-0929989
Entity Address, Address Line One	650 Fifth Ave.
Entity Address, Address Line Two	30th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10019
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	415-6500
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		133,268,193
Entity Central Index Key	0001568162
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	RTL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
7.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	RTLPP
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
7.375% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.375% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	RTLPO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
No Trading Symbol Flag	true