Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Mar. 31, 2017
Revenues:    
Rentals $ 157,612 $ 159,220
Interest income on loans receivable 1,827 892
Earned income from direct financing leases 465 612
Tenant reimbursement income 4,418 3,965
Other income 956 733
Total revenues 165,278 165,422
Expenses:    
General and administrative 15,885 13,418
Transaction costs 3,932 0
Property costs (including reimbursable) 7,415 9,051
Real estate acquisition costs 48 153
Interest 51,065 46,623
Depreciation and amortization 62,117 64,994
Impairments 14,569 34,376
Total expenses 155,031 168,615
Income (loss) before other income/(expense) and income tax expense 10,247 (3,193)
Other income (expense):    
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 21,328 (30)
Total other income (expense) 21,328 (30)
Income (loss) before income tax expense 31,575 (3,223)
Income tax expense (252) (165)
Income (loss) before (loss) gain on disposition of assets 31,323 (3,388)
(Loss) gain on disposition of assets (605) 16,217
Net income 30,718 12,829
Total comprehensive income 30,718 12,829
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders/ preferred distributions (2,588) 0
Net Income attributable to common stockholders/ net income after preferred distributions $ 28,130 $ 12,829
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—basic (in USD per share) $ 0.06 $ 0.03
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.06 $ 0.03
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 444,875,428 482,607,198
Diluted (in shares) 445,102,225 482,609,096
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:    
Dividends declared per common share/distributions declared per partnership unit issued (in USD per share) $ 0.18000 $ 0.18
Spirit Realty, L.P.    
Revenues:    
Rentals $ 157,612 $ 159,220
Interest income on loans receivable 1,827 892
Earned income from direct financing leases 465 612
Tenant reimbursement income 4,418 3,965
Other income 956 733
Total revenues 165,278 165,422
Expenses:    
General and administrative 15,885 13,418
Transaction costs 3,932 0
Property costs (including reimbursable) 7,415 9,051
Real estate acquisition costs 48 153
Interest 51,065 46,623
Depreciation and amortization 62,117 64,994
Impairments 14,569 34,376
Total expenses 155,031 168,615
Income (loss) before other income/(expense) and income tax expense 10,247 (3,193)
Other income (expense):    
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 21,328 (30)
Total other income (expense) 21,328 (30)
Income (loss) before income tax expense 31,575 (3,223)
Income tax expense (252) (165)
Income (loss) before (loss) gain on disposition of assets 31,323 (3,388)
(Loss) gain on disposition of assets (605) 16,217
Net income 30,718 12,829
Total comprehensive income 30,718 12,829
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders/ preferred distributions (2,588) 0
Net Income attributable to common stockholders/ net income after preferred distributions 28,130 12,829
Net income attributable to the general partner 229 109
Net income attributable to the limited partners $ 30,489 $ 12,720
Net income per partnership unit - basic (in USD per share) $ 0.06 $ 0.03
Net income per partnership unit - diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.06 $ 0.03
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 444,875,428 482,607,198
Diluted (in shares) 445,102,225 482,609,096
Dividends declared per common share/distributions declared per partnership unit issued (in USD per share) $ 0.18 $ 0.18