Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:      
Rental income $ 402,321,000 $ 424,260,000 $ 420,003,000
Interest income on loans receivable 3,447,000 3,346,000 3,399,000
Earned income from direct financing leases 1,814,000 2,078,000 2,742,000
Related party fee income 15,838,000 0 0
Other income 21,705,000 1,574,000 9,196,000
Total revenues 445,125,000 431,258,000 435,340,000
Expenses:      
General and administrative 52,993,000 54,998,000 48,651,000
Restructuring charges 0 0 6,341,000
Property costs (including reimbursable) 21,066,000 28,487,000 26,045,000
Real estate acquisition costs 210,000 1,434,000 2,904,000
Interest 97,548,000 113,394,000 118,690,000
Depreciation and amortization 162,452,000 173,686,000 173,036,000
Impairments 6,725,000 61,597,000 61,395,000
Total expenses 340,994,000 433,596,000 437,062,000
Other income:      
Gain on debt extinguishment 27,092,000 579,000 1,605,000
Gain on disposition of assets 14,629,000 42,698,000 29,623,000
Preferred dividend income from SMTA 8,750,000 0 0
Other expense (5,319,000) 0 0
Total other income 45,152,000 43,277,000 31,228,000
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense 149,283,000 40,939,000 29,506,000
Income tax expense (792,000) (511,000) (868,000)
Income from continuing operations 148,491,000 40,428,000 28,638,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (16,439,000) 36,720,000 68,808,000
Net Income 132,052,000 77,148,000 97,446,000
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders (10,352,000) (2,530,000) 0
Net income attributable to common stockholders/ after preferred distributions $ 121,700,000 $ 74,618,000 $ 97,446,000
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic:      
Continuing operations (in dollars per share) $ 1.59 $ 0.40 $ 0.30
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) (0.19) 0.39 0.73
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—basic (in dollars per share) 1.40 0.79 1.03
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted:      
Continuing operations (in dollars per share) 1.58 0.40 0.30
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) (0.19) 0.39 0.73
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders and partners—diluted (in dollars per share) $ 1.39 $ 0.79 $ 1.03
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:      
Basic (in shares) 86,321,268 93,586,991 93,843,552
Diluted (in shares) 86,476,449 93,588,560 93,849,250
Spirit Realty, L.P.      
Revenues:      
Rental income $ 402,321,000 $ 424,260,000 $ 420,003,000
Interest income on loans receivable 3,447,000 3,346,000 3,399,000
Earned income from direct financing leases 1,814,000 2,078,000 2,742,000
Related party fee income 15,838,000 0 0
Other income 21,705,000 1,574,000 9,196,000
Total revenues 445,125,000 431,258,000 435,340,000
Expenses:      
General and administrative 52,993,000 54,998,000 48,651,000
Restructuring charges 0 0 6,341,000
Property costs (including reimbursable) 21,066,000 28,487,000 26,045,000
Real estate acquisition costs 210,000 1,434,000 2,904,000
Interest 97,548,000 113,394,000 118,690,000
Depreciation and amortization 162,452,000 173,686,000 173,036,000
Impairments 6,725,000 61,597,000 61,395,000
Total expenses 340,994,000 433,596,000 437,062,000
Other income:      
Gain on debt extinguishment 27,092,000 579,000 1,605,000
Gain on disposition of assets 14,629,000 42,698,000 29,623,000
Preferred dividend income from SMTA 8,750,000 0 0
Other expense (5,319,000) 0 0
Total other income 45,152,000 43,277,000 31,228,000
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense 149,283,000 40,939,000 29,506,000
Income tax expense (792,000) (511,000) (868,000)
Income from continuing operations 148,491,000 40,428,000 28,638,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (16,439,000) 36,720,000 68,808,000
Net Income 132,052,000 77,148,000 97,446,000
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders (10,352,000) (2,530,000) 0
Net income attributable to common stockholders/ after preferred distributions 121,700,000 74,618,000 97,446,000
Net income attributable to general partners - Continuing operations 1,270,000 353,000 243,000
Net income attributable to general partners - Discontinued operations (151,000) 304,000 582,000
Net income attributable to general partners 1,119,000 657,000 825,000
Net income attributable to limited partners - Continuing operations 147,221,000 40,075,000 28,395,000
Net income attributable to limited partners - Discontinued operations (16,288,000) 36,416,000 68,226,000
Net income attributable to limited partners $ 130,933,000 $ 76,491,000 $ 96,621,000
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic:      
Net income per common partnership unit - basic - Continued operations (in dollars per share) $ 1.59 $ 0.40 $ 0.30
Net income per common partnership unit - basic - Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) (0.19) 0.39 0.73
Net income per common partnership unit - basic (in dollars per share) 1.40 0.79 1.03
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted:      
Net income per common partnership unit - diluted - Continued operations (in dollars per share) 1.58 0.40 0.30
Net income per common partnership unit - diluted - Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) (0.19) 0.39 0.73
Net income per common partnership unit —diluted (in dollars per share) $ 1.39 $ 0.79 $ 1.03
Weighted average common partnership units outstanding:      
Basic (in shares) 86,321,268 93,586,991 93,843,552
Diluted (in shares) 86,476,449 93,588,560 93,849,250