Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Realty Income, L.P.	Jan. 22, 2013 ARCT	Dec. 31, 2013 ARCT
Acquisition of American Realty Capital Trust, Inc.
Real estate investments and related intangible assets						$ 3,200,000,000
Other assets						19,500,000
Lines of credit payable						317,200,000
Term loan						235,000,000
Other liabilities					22,298,000	29,000,000
Mortgage notes payable				32,400,000		539,000,000
Number of units issued				534,546
Cash				1,000,000	56,216,000
Mortgage discount related to real estate	15,000,000	14,000,000		386,000
Acquired lease intangible liabilities						79,700,000
Noncontrolling interests						14,000,000
Real estate acquired				55,900,000		3,200,000,000
Cash paid for interest	166,100,000	112,500,000	102,000,000
Interest capitalized to properties under development	537,000	498,000	438,000
Cash paid for income taxes	2,100,000	1,000,000	871,000
Non-cash activities
Share-based compensation expense	20,785,000	10,001,000	7,873,000
Mortgages assumed	81,300,000	110,500,000	67,400,000
Net premiums recorded on mortgages assumed	6,100,000	10,000,000	820,000
Real estate acquired via exchange of properties	7,400,000
Receivable recorded for the sale of an investment property as a result of an eminent domain action	1,900,000
Number of investment properties sold as a result of an eminent domain action	2
Increase in buildings and improvements and accounts payable	$ 5,500,000	$ 3,800,000	$ 3,700,000