Noncontrolling Interests (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property item shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 27, 2013 shares	Jan. 22, 2013 shares
Noncontrolling interests
Conversion ratio		1
Number of properties acquired | property		2
Number of jointventures controlling interest acquired | item		2
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period		$ 21,737
Redemptions		(9,026)
Contributions		15,906
Allocation of net income		(906)	$ (1,089)	$ (1,305)
Carrying value at end of the period		20,249	21,737
Noncontrolling interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 27,698	21,737	27,698
Reallocation of equity		543	(1,051)	(6,647)
Redemptions		(6,161)	(4,347)	(1,032)
Contributions		15,906
Distributions		(12,682)	(1,652)
Allocation of net income		906	1,089
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 20,249	21,737	27,698
Joint Venture One
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)		90.50%
Joint Venture Two
Noncontrolling interests
Ownership interest (as a percent)		74.00%
Tau Operating Partnership, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		99.40%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 13,067	$ 13,410	13,067
Reallocation of equity		491	836
Distributions		(762)	(722)
Allocation of net income		266	229
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 13,405	$ 13,410	13,067
Units held by third party | shares		317,022	317,022			317,022
Interest paid on preferred units (as a percent)		2.00%
Units Redeemed During Period Shares | shares	6,750
Payments For Repurchase Of Redeemable Preferred Stock During Period Value Conversion Of Units Price Per Unit | $ / shares	$ 1,000
Realty Income, L.P.
Noncontrolling interests
Third party partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		0.40%
Realty Income partnership units, ownership interest (as a percent)		99.60%
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Carrying value at beginning of the period	$ 14,631	$ 8,327	$ 14,631
Reallocation of equity		52	(1,887)
Redemptions		(6,161)	(4,347)
Distributions		(459)	(930)
Allocation of net income		457	860
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 2,216	$ 8,327	$ 14,631
Units held by third party | shares		88,182	331,364		534,546
Other Noncontrolling Interests
Change in the carrying value of all noncontrolling interests
Contributions		$ 15,906
Distributions		(11,461)
Allocation of net income		183
Carrying value at end of the period		$ 4,628