Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:      
Rentals $ 409,349 $ 408,116 $ 381,238
Interest income on loans receivable 3,346 3,399 3,647
Earned income from direct financing leases 2,078 2,742 3,024
Tenant reimbursement income 14,911 11,887 13,931
Other income 1,574 9,196 866
Total revenues 431,258 435,340 402,706
Expenses:      
General and administrative 57,512 50,607 45,663
Restructuring charges 0 6,341 7,056
Property costs (including reimbursable) 25,973 24,089 21,379
Real estate acquisition costs 1,434 2,904 2,352
Interest 113,394 118,690 139,183
Depreciation and amortization 173,686 173,036 166,478
Impairments 61,597 61,395 50,381
Total expenses 433,596 437,062 432,492
Loss from continuing operations before other income (expense) and income tax expense (2,338) (1,722) (29,786)
Other income (expense):      
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 579 1,605 (2,375)
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets 42,698 29,623 (61)
Total other income (expense) 43,277 31,228 (2,436)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense 40,939 29,506 (32,222)
Income tax expense (511) (868) (479)
Income (loss) from continuing operations 40,428 28,638 (32,701)
Income used in basic and diluted income per share from discontinued operations 36,720 68,808 125,913
Net Income 77,148 97,446 93,212
Less: dividends paid to preferred stockholders (2,530) 0 0
Net income attributable to common stockholders/ after preferred distributions $ 74,618 $ 97,446 $ 93,212
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic:      
Continuing operations (in dollars per share) $ 0.08 $ 0.06 $ (0.08)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.15 0.29
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—basic (in dollars per share) 0.16 0.21 0.21
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted:      
Continuing operations (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.06 (0.08)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.15 0.29
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.16 $ 0.21 $ 0.21
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:      
Basic (in shares) 467,934,945 469,217,776 432,222,953
Diluted (in shares) 467,942,788 469,246,265 432,222,953
Spirit Realty, L.P.      
Revenues:      
Rentals $ 409,349 $ 408,116 $ 381,238
Interest income on loans receivable 3,346 3,399 3,647
Earned income from direct financing leases 2,078 2,742 3,024
Tenant reimbursement income 14,911 11,887 13,931
Other income 1,574 9,196 866
Total revenues 431,258 435,340 402,706
Expenses:      
General and administrative 57,512 50,607 45,663
Restructuring charges 0 6,341 7,056
Property costs (including reimbursable) 25,973 24,089 21,379
Real estate acquisition costs 1,434 2,904 2,352
Interest 113,394 118,690 139,183
Depreciation and amortization 173,686 173,036 166,478
Impairments 61,597 61,395 50,381
Total expenses 433,596 437,062 432,492
Loss from continuing operations before other income (expense) and income tax expense (2,338) (1,722) (29,786)
Other income (expense):      
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment 579 1,605 (2,375)
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets 42,698 29,623 (61)
Total other income (expense) 43,277 31,228 (2,436)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense 40,939 29,506 (32,222)
Income tax expense (511) (868) (479)
Income (loss) from continuing operations 40,428 28,638 (32,701)
Income used in basic and diluted income per share from discontinued operations 36,720 68,808 125,913
Net Income 77,148 97,446 93,212
Less: dividends paid to preferred stockholders (2,530) 0 0
Net income attributable to common stockholders/ after preferred distributions 74,618 97,446 93,212
Net income attributable to general partners - Continuing operations 353 243 (300)
Net income attributable to general partners - Discontinued operations 304 582 1,155
Net income attributable to general partners 657 825 855
Net income attributable to limited partners - Continuing operations 40,075 28,395 (32,401)
Net income attributable to limited partners - Discontinued operations 36,416 68,226 124,758
Net income attributable to limited partners $ 76,491 $ 96,621 $ 92,357
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - basic:      
Continuing operations net income per common partnership unit - basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.08 $ 0.06 $ (0.08)
Discontinued operations net income per common partnership unit - basic (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.15 0.29
Net income per common partnership unit - basic (in dollars per share) 0.16 0.21 0.21
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted:      
Continuing operations net income per common partnership unit - diluted (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.06 (0.08)
Discontinued operations net income per common partnership unit - diluted (in dollars per share) 0.08 0.15 0.29
Net income per common partnership unit —diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.16 $ 0.21 $ 0.21
Weighted average common partnership units outstanding:      
Basic (in shares) 467,934,945 469,217,776 432,222,953
Diluted (in shares) 467,942,788 469,246,265 432,222,953