Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Information                      
Revenues $ 113,875 $ 110,076 $ 109,185 $ 107,226 $ 110,328 $ 108,202 $ 109,667 $ 98,750 $ 440,362 $ 426,947 $ 396,706
Expenses 60,118 87,442 60,037 56,205 56,736 54,253 53,795 54,108 263,802 218,892 221,226
Net Income 15,305 67,045 91,241 55,617 31,702 29,199 39,375 23,844 229,208 124,120 106,993
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (10,459) (8,827) (9,383) (10,194) (10,569) (9,147) (10,935) (9,264) (38,863) (39,915) (32,842)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global $ 4,846 $ 58,218 $ 81,858 $ 45,423 $ 21,133 $ 20,052 $ 28,440 $ 14,580 $ 190,345 $ 84,205 $ 74,151
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global (usd per share) $ 0.0100 $ 0.17 $ 0.24 $ 0.13 $ 0.06 $ 0.06 $ 0.09 $ 0.04      
Distributions declared per share, (usd per share) $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.1625 $ 0.65 $ 0.65 $ 0.6500