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Represents the reallocation of equity between limited and general partner.

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Number of partnership units issued.

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No definition available.

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Number of partnership units outstanding.

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The cash outflow or inflow increase (decrease) in distribution due to real estate partnership based upon payments and accruals.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

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Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests).

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of increase in noncontrolling interest from subsidiary issuance of equity interests to noncontrolling interest holders.

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Noncontrolling Interests - Change in Carrying Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 28, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Mar. 30, 2018	Jan. 22, 2013
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 32,236
Reallocation of equity	0	$ 0	$ 0
Redemptions	(21,123)	(2,752)
Additions to noncontrolling interest	11,370	18,848
Allocation of net income	996	984	520
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 29,702	$ 32,236
Tau Operating Partnership
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Number of partnership units issued (in units)							317,022
Number of partnership units outstanding (in units)	0	317,022
Realty Income, L.P.
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Number of partnership units issued (in units)	89,322	373,797		89,322	131,790	242,007
Number of partnership units outstanding (in units)	463,119	373,797
Noncontrolling interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 32,236	$ 19,207
Reallocation of equity	653	774	485
Redemptions	(14,257)	(5,581)
Additions to noncontrolling interest	11,370	18,848
Distributions	(1,296)	(1,996)
Allocation of net income	996	984
Carrying value at end of the period	29,702	32,236	19,207
Noncontrolling interests \| Tau Operating Partnership
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	13,356	13,322
Reallocation of equity	0	572
Redemptions	(13,356)	0
Additions to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Distributions	0	(837)
Allocation of net income	0	299
Carrying value at end of the period	0	13,356	13,322
Noncontrolling interests \| Realty Income, L.P.
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	17,912	2,160
Reallocation of equity	653	(43)
Redemptions	0	(2,829)
Additions to noncontrolling interest	6,286	18,848
Distributions	(1,219)	(842)
Allocation of net income	964	618
Carrying value at end of the period	24,596	17,912	2,160
Noncontrolling interests \| Other Noncontrolling Interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	968	3,725
Reallocation of equity	0	245
Redemptions	(901)	(2,752)
Additions to noncontrolling interest	5,084	0
Distributions	(77)	(317)
Allocation of net income	32	67
Carrying value at end of the period	$ 5,106	$ 968	$ 3,725