Stockholders' Equity and Partners' Capital - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 8 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 17 Months Ended 26 Months Ended 32 Months Ended
Oct. 03, 2017
Apr. 15, 2016
May 31, 2018
Nov. 30, 2016
Feb. 29, 2016
Apr. 30, 2018
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Jun. 30, 2017
Dec. 31, 2018
Nov. 30, 2016
Aug. 31, 2017
Apr. 30, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of shares issued   6,900,000                        
Dividend rate 6.00%                          
Liquidation value (in dollars per share) $ 25           $ 25 $ 25     $ 25      
Dividend rate, quarterly basis (in dollars per share) 0.375                          
Dividend rate, annual basis (in dollars per share) $ 1.50                          
Period for change of control provision 120 days                          
Shares surrendered for payment of federal and state withholding taxes             57,700              
Shares surrendered for payment of federal and state withholding taxes, value             $ 2,400,000              
Price per share issued (in dollars per share)   $ 55.75                        
Gross proceeds from common stock offering   $ 384,700,000         $ 2,972,000 $ 0 $ 446,613,000          
Net proceeds from common stock offering   $ 368,900,000                        
May 2018                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount     $ 250,000,000                      
Stock repurchase program, period in force     18 months                      
Stock repurchased during period (in shares)             0              
2017 Stock Repurchase Program                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount             $ 0       $ 0      
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount                         $ 250,000,000  
Stock repurchased during period (in shares)           6,100,000                
Stock repurchased, weighted average price (in dollars per share)           $ 40.70                
Stock repurchased, fees acquired           $ 700,000                
2016 Stock Repurchase Program                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount             0       $ 0      
Stock repurchase program, period in force         18 months                  
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount         $ 200,000,000                  
Stock repurchased during period (in shares)                   5,267,456        
Stock repurchased, weighted average price (in dollars per share)                   $ 37.97        
Stock repurchased, fees acquired                   $ 500,000        
Spirit Realty, L.P.                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Gross proceeds from common stock offering             $ 2,972,000 $ 0 $ 446,613,000          
Limited Partner | Spirit Realty, L.P.                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Shares surrendered for payment of federal and state withholding taxes [1]             57,679 88,062 14,567          
Limited Partner | Spirit Realty, L.P. | Limited Partner Series A Preferred Units                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of preferred units issued 6,900,000                          
Public Stock Offering                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of shares issued 6,900,000                          
Aggregate gross proceeds from stock offering $ 172,500,000                          
Aggregate net proceeds from stock offering $ 166,200,000                          
Over-Allotment Option                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of shares issued 900,000 900,000.0                        
ATM Program                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of shares issued                       5,500,000    
Gross proceeds from common stock offering                       $ 325,500,000    
Net proceeds from common stock offering                       320,000,000    
Shares authorized, amount                           $ 350,000,000
Payment of commissions and other issuance costs                       $ 5,400,000    
ATM Program | Weighted Average                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Share issued during the period (in dollars per share)                       $ 59.60    
ATM Program, November 2016                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Number of shares issued                     92,500      
Net proceeds from common stock offering                     $ 3,700,000      
Common stock authorized       $ 500,000,000                    
ATM Program, November 2016 | Weighted Average                            
Class of Stock [Line Items]                            
Share issued during the period (in dollars per share)                     $ 40.57      
[1] Consists of limited partnership interests held by Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. and Spirit Notes Partner, LLC.