Noncontrolling Interests (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 shares	Jun. 27, 2013 shares	Jan. 22, 2013 shares
Noncontrolling interests
Conversion ratio				1
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period				$ 21,737
Reallocation of equity				543
Redemptions				(6,161)
Distributions				(976)
Allocation of net income		$ 130	$ 338	623	$ 919
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 15,766		$ 15,766
Tau Operating Partnership, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		99.40%		99.40%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period				$ 13,410
Reallocation of equity				491
Distributions				(570)
Allocation of net income				204
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 13,535		$ 13,535
Units held by third party | shares		317,022		317,022		317,022		317,022
Payment rate per annum (as a percent)		2.00%		2.00%
Partnership preferred units redeemed (in shares) | shares	6,750
Partnership preferred units redemption price (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 1,000
Realty Income, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Third party partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		0.40%		0.40%
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		99.60%		99.60%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period				$ 8,327
Reallocation of equity				52
Redemptions				(6,161)
Distributions				(406)
Allocation of net income				419
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 2,231		$ 2,231
Units held by third party | shares		88,182		88,182		331,364	534,546