Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2017
Operating activities    
Net income $ 47,882 $ 36,035
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 116,097 129,214
Impairments 15,918 50,372
Amortization of deferred financing costs 5,552 4,823
Amortization of debt discounts 8,252 6,304
Stock-based compensation expense 9,104 11,438
(Gain) loss on debt extinguishment (26,729) 22
Gain on dispositions of real estate and other assets (117) (31,490)
Non-cash revenue (9,765) (14,275)
Bad debt expense and other 1,592 2,714
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Deferred costs and other assets, net (3,254) 3,337
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (4,121) 2,893
Net cash provided by operating activities 160,411 201,387
Investing activities    
Acquisitions of real estate (18,144) (218,117)
Capitalized real estate expenditures (21,133) (23,327)
Investments in notes receivable (35,450) (3,000)
Collections of principal on loans receivable and real estate assets under direct financing leases 22,818 2,074
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate and other assets 37,563 239,077
Net cash used in investing activities (14,346) (3,293)
Financing activities    
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility 475,500 568,200
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility (241,000) (334,200)
Borrowings under mortgages and notes payable 104,247 0
Repayments under mortgages and notes payable (164,883) (26,759)
Debt extinguishment costs (2,968) 0
Deferred financing costs (1,398) (192)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash held by SMTA at Spin-Off (73,081) 0
Sale of SubREIT preferred shares 5,000 0
Repurchase of shares of common stock (169,821) (203,827)
Preferred stock dividends paid (5,176) 0
Common stock dividends paid (159,534) (174,693)
Net cash used in financing activities (233,114) (171,471)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (87,049) 26,623
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 114,707 36,900
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period 27,658 63,523
Cash paid for interest 76,963 57,065
Cash paid for income taxes 754 749
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:    
Investment in preferred shares 150,000 0
Non-cash net distribution to SMTA 142,924 0
Relief of debt through sale or foreclosure of real estate properties 56,119 35,528
Reclass of residual value on expired deferred financing lease to operating asset 0 8,613
Net real estate and other collateral assets sold or surrendered to lender 28,271 35,008
Accrued interest capitalized to principal [1] 412 1,206
Accrued performance share dividend rights 306 353
Distributions declared and unpaid 78,381 82,422
Accrued deferred financing costs 0 221
Financing provided in connection with disposition of assets 2,888 0
Spirit Realty, L.P.    
Operating activities    
Net income 47,882 36,035
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 116,097 129,214
Impairments 15,918 50,372
Amortization of deferred financing costs 5,552 4,823
Amortization of debt discounts 8,252 6,304
Stock-based compensation expense 9,104 11,438
(Gain) loss on debt extinguishment (26,729) 22
Gain on dispositions of real estate and other assets (117) (31,490)
Non-cash revenue (9,765) (14,275)
Bad debt expense and other 1,592 2,714
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Deferred costs and other assets, net (3,254) 3,337
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (4,121) 2,893
Net cash provided by operating activities 160,411 201,387
Investing activities    
Acquisitions of real estate (18,144) (218,117)
Capitalized real estate expenditures (21,133) (23,327)
Investments in notes receivable (35,450) (3,000)
Collections of principal on loans receivable and real estate assets under direct financing leases 22,818 2,074
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate and other assets 37,563 239,077
Net cash used in investing activities (14,346) (3,293)
Financing activities    
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility 475,500 568,200
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility (241,000) (334,200)
Borrowings under mortgages and notes payable 104,247 0
Repayments under mortgages and notes payable (164,883) (26,759)
Debt extinguishment costs (2,968) 0
Deferred financing costs (1,398) (192)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash held by SMTA at Spin-Off (73,081) 0
Sale of SubREIT preferred shares 5,000 0
Repurchase of partnership units (169,821) (203,827)
Preferred stock dividends paid (5,176) 0
Common stock dividends paid (159,534) (174,693)
Net cash used in financing activities (233,114) (171,471)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (87,049) 26,623
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 114,707 36,900
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period 27,658 63,523
Cash paid for interest 76,963 57,065
Cash paid for income taxes 754 749
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:    
Investment in preferred shares 150,000 0
Non-cash net distribution to SMTA 142,924 0
Relief of debt through sale or foreclosure of real estate properties 56,119 35,528
Reclass of residual value on expired deferred financing lease to operating asset 0 8,613
Net real estate and other collateral assets sold or surrendered to lender 28,271 35,008
Accrued interest capitalized to principal [1] 412 1,206
Accrued performance share dividend rights 306 353
Distributions declared and unpaid 78,381 82,422
Accrued deferred financing costs 0 221
Financing provided in connection with disposition of assets $ 2,888 $ 0
[1] Accrued and overdue interest on certain CMBS notes that have been intentionally placed in default.