Noncontrolling Interests - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands							1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2021 USD ($) property shares	Nov. 30, 2021 USD ($) property shares	Nov. 01, 2021 USD ($) shares	Mar. 28, 2019 USD ($) shares	Apr. 30, 2018 shares	Mar. 30, 2018 shares	May 31, 2021 joint_venture	Dec. 31, 2020 joint_venture	Dec. 31, 2019 property	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) noncontrolling_interest joint_venture	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Noncontrolling interests
Number of noncontrolling interests consolidated | noncontrolling_interest										4
Number of development joint ventures | joint_venture										2
Number of development joint ventures acquired | joint_venture							1	1
Additions to noncontrolling interest										$ 43,390	$ 3,168	$ 11,370
Number of properties acquired by acquiring a controlling interest | property									9
Conversion ratio										1.02934
Realty Income, L.P. units
Noncontrolling interests
Number of partnership units issued (in units) | shares	240,586	300,604		89,322	131,790	242,007
Number of properties acquired in connection with issuance of partnership units | property	1	7
Additions to noncontrolling interest	$ 16,600	$ 20,400		$ 6,300						$ 38,783	$ 0	$ 6,286
Realty Income, L.P. units | VEREIT
Noncontrolling interests
Number of partnership units issued (in units) | shares			56,400
Additions to noncontrolling interest			$ 1,800
Realty Income, L.P. units
Noncontrolling interests
Third-party partnership ownership interest (as a percent)										4.20%
Ownership interest (as a percent)										95.80%
Joint venture established May 2021
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)										72.40%
Joint venture established December 2020
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)										94.50%
Joint venture acquired December 2019
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)										89.90%