Consolidated Statements of Operation - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues:    
Rental income $ 104,067  
Rental income   $ 101,507
Interest income on loans receivable 986 995
Earned income from direct financing leases 396  
Earned income from direct financing leases   465
Related party fee income 6,927 0
Other income 217 572
Total revenues 112,593 103,539
Expenses:    
General and administrative 13,181 15,290
Property costs (including reimbursable) 5,154 5,551
Real estate acquisition costs 71 47
Interest 26,611 23,053
Depreciation and amortization 41,349 40,694
Impairments 3,692 3,497
Total expenses 90,058 88,132
Other income:    
Gain on debt extinguishment 8,783 21,583
Gain on disposition of assets 8,730 1,251
Preferred dividend income from SMTA 3,750 0
Total other income 21,263 22,834
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense 43,798 38,241
Income tax expense (220) (163)
Income from continuing operations 43,578 38,078
Loss from discontinued operations 0 (7,360)
Net income 43,578 30,718
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders (2,588) (2,588)
Net income attributable to common stockholders/after preferred distributions $ 40,990 $ 28,130
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic:    
Continuing operations (in USD per share) $ 0.48 $ 0.39
Discontinued operations (in USD per share) 0.00 (0.08)
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic (in USD per share) 0.48 0.31
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted    
Continuing operations (in USD per share) 0.48 0.39
Discontinued operations (in USD per share) 0.00 (0.08)
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.48 $ 0.31
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 85,497,093 88,975,391
Diluted (in shares) 85,504,897 89,020,751
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:    
Dividends declared per common share/per partnership unit issued (in USD per share) $ 0.625 $ 0.9
Spirit Realty, L.P.    
Revenues:    
Rental income $ 104,067  
Rental income   $ 101,507
Interest income on loans receivable 986 995
Earned income from direct financing leases 396  
Earned income from direct financing leases   465
Related party fee income 6,927 0
Other income 217 572
Total revenues 112,593 103,539
Expenses:    
General and administrative 13,181 15,290
Property costs (including reimbursable) 5,154 5,551
Real estate acquisition costs 71 47
Interest 26,611 23,053
Depreciation and amortization 41,349 40,694
Impairments 3,692 3,497
Total expenses 90,058 88,132
Other income:    
Gain on debt extinguishment 8,783 21,583
Gain on disposition of assets 8,730 1,251
Preferred dividend income from SMTA 3,750 0
Total other income 21,263 22,834
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense 43,798 38,241
Income tax expense (220) (163)
Income from continuing operations 43,578 38,078
Loss from discontinued operations 0 (7,360)
Net income 43,578 30,718
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders (2,588) (2,588)
Net income attributable to common stockholders/after preferred distributions 40,990 28,130
Net income attributable to the general partner    
Continuing operations 380 284
Discontinued operations 0 (55)
Net income attributable to the general partner 380 229
Net income attributable to the limited partners    
Continuing operations 43,198 37,794
Discontinued operations 0 (7,305)
Net income attributable to the limited partners $ 43,198 $ 30,489
Net income per partnership unit - basic    
Continuing operations (in USD per share) $ 0.48 $ 0.39
Discontinued operations (in USD per share) 0.00 (0.08)
Net income per partnership unit - basic (in USD per share) 0.48 0.31
Net income per partnership unit - diluted    
Continuing operations (in USD per share) 0.48 0.39
Discontinued operations (in USD per share) 0.00 (0.08)
Net income per partnership unit - diluted (in USD per share) $ 0.48 $ 0.31
Weighted average partnership units outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 85,497,093 88,975,391
Diluted (in shares) 85,504,897 89,020,751
Dividends declared per common share/per partnership unit issued (in USD per share) $ 0.6250 $ 0.9000