Segment Reporting - Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($)
$ 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
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)                      
Revenues $ 113,875 $ 110,076 $ 109,185 $ 107,226 $ 110,328 $ 108,202 $ 109,667 $ 98,750 $ 440,362 $ 426,947 $ 396,706
Operating expenses (60,118) (87,442) (60,037) (56,205) (56,736) (54,253) (53,795) (54,108) (263,802) (218,892) (221,226)
Interest expense                 (98,813) (93,551) (93,001)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense                 27,080 16,304 21,901
Provision for income taxes                 (8,477) (8,885) (10,725)
Gain on the sale of property                 132,858 2,197 13,338
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                 190,345 84,205 74,151
Operating Segments | Net Lease                      
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)                      
Revenues                 389,709 366,904 340,791
Operating expenses                 (180,376) (136,838) (132,206)
Interest expense                 (87,703) (85,138) (85,563)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense                 10,412 18,508 8,190
Provision for income taxes                 (2,887) (7,458) (9,486)
Gain on the sale of property                 0 2,197 12,451
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests                 (14,098) (15,247) (12,415)
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global                 115,057 142,928 121,762
Operating Segments | Self-Storage                      
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)                      
Revenues                 43,979 46,418 42,091
Operating expenses                 (36,094) (32,575) (32,797)
Interest expense                 (8,744) (7,655) (7,723)
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense                 25,920 (1,858) (2,032)
Provision for income taxes                 (183) (167) (192)
Gain on the sale of property                 132,858 0 790
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global                 157,736 4,163 137
Operating Segments | All Other                      
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)                      
Revenues                 6,674 13,625 13,824
Operating expenses                 (633) (1,712) (7,215)
Interest expense                 (5) 404 906
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense                 (8,419) (1,691) 17,541
Provision for income taxes                 (4,671) (150) (98)
Gain on the sale of property                 0 0 97
Net income attributable to CPA®:17 – Global                 (7,054) 10,476 25,055
Corporate                      
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)                      
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests                 (24,765) (24,668) (20,427)
Unallocated Corporate Overhead                 $ (50,629) $ (48,694) $ (52,376)