Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues:        
Rentals $ 160,487 $ 160,506 $ 319,707 $ 322,325
Interest income on loans receivable 874 1,625 1,766 3,284
Earned income from direct financing leases 518 698 1,130 1,422
Tenant reimbursement income 4,480 3,200 8,445 7,024
Other income 2,276 5,697 3,009 6,028
Total revenues 168,635 171,726 334,057 340,083
Expenses:        
General and administrative 22,862 13,850 36,280 25,499
Restructuring charges   1,813 0 2,462
Transaction costs 485 0 485 0
Property costs 9,632 6,611 18,683 13,938
Real estate acquisition costs 424 979 577 1,036
Interest 46,826 49,172 93,449 102,189
Depreciation and amortization 64,220 64,263 129,214 128,927
Impairments 15,996 13,371 50,372 25,989
Total expenses 160,445 150,059 329,060 300,040
Income before other income/(expense) and income tax expense 8,190 21,667 4,997 40,043
Other income (expense):        
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 8 14,016 (22) 8,675
Total other income (expense) 8 14,016 (22) 8,675
Income before income tax expense 8,198 35,683 4,975 48,718
Income tax expense (265) (839) (430) (920)
Income before gain on disposition of assets 7,933 34,844 4,545 47,798
Gain on disposition of assets 15,273 11,115 31,490 21,261
Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 23,206 $ 45,959 $ 36,035 $ 69,059
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—basic (in USD per share) $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.07 $ 0.15
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.07 $ 0.15
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:        
Basic (in shares) 479,102,268 473,161,125 480,845,051 457,263,526
Diluted (in shares) 479,102,268 473,164,386 480,845,622 457,267,015
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:        
Dividends declared per common share issued (in USD per share) $ 0.18000 $ 0.17500 $ 0.36000 $ 0.35000
Spirit Realty, L.P.        
Revenues:        
Rentals $ 160,487 $ 160,506 $ 319,707 $ 322,325
Interest income on loans receivable 874 1,625 1,766 3,284
Earned income from direct financing leases 518 698 1,130 1,422
Tenant reimbursement income 4,480 3,200 8,445 7,024
Other income 2,276 5,697 3,009 6,028
Total revenues 168,635 171,726 334,057 340,083
Expenses:        
General and administrative 22,862 13,850 36,280 25,499
Restructuring charges 0 1,813 0 2,462
Transaction costs 485 0 485 0
Property costs 9,632 6,611 18,683 13,938
Real estate acquisition costs 424 979 577 1,036
Interest 46,826 49,172 93,449 102,189
Depreciation and amortization 64,220 64,263 129,214 128,927
Impairments 15,996 13,371 50,372 25,989
Total expenses 160,445 150,059 329,060 300,040
Income before other income/(expense) and income tax expense 8,190 21,667 4,997 40,043
Other income (expense):        
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 8 14,016 (22) 8,675
Total other income (expense) 8 14,016 (22) 8,675
Income before income tax expense 8,198 35,683 4,975 48,718
Income tax expense (265) (839) (430) (920)
Income before gain on disposition of assets 7,933 34,844 4,545 47,798
Gain on disposition of assets 15,273 11,115 31,490 21,261
Net income attributable to common stockholders 23,206 45,959 36,035 69,059
Net income attributable to the general partner 188 389 297 585
Net income attributable to the limited partners $ 23,018 $ 45,570 $ 35,738 $ 68,474
Net income per partnership unit - basic (in USD per share) $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.07 $ 0.15
Net income per partnership unit - diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.07 $ 0.15
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:        
Basic (in shares) 479,102,268 473,161,125 480,845,051 457,263,526
Diluted (in shares) 479,102,268 473,164,386 480,845,622 457,267,015
Dividends declared per common share issued (in USD per share) $ 0.1800 $ 0.1750 $ 0.3600 $ 0.3500