No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentFinancialStatementReportedAmountsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482964/270-10-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (ee)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481664/323-10-45-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(10))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-25

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) for proportionate share of equity method investee's income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 230
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482964/270-10-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (ee)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(10))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477250/944-220-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481664/323-10-45-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-22

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(12))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483621/220-10-S99-2

Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13)(f))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478524/942-220-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in the taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Payments To Settled Other Commitments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wpc_PaymentsToSettledOtherCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	wpc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	wpc_EquityInvestmentsAxis=wpc_OwnedRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=srt_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wpc_RetailComplexInLasVegasNevadaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=wpc_ConstructionCommitmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wpc_JohnsonSelfStorageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wpc_KeskoSenukaiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wpc_HarmonRetailCornerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wpc_CareyEuropeanStudentHousingFundIL.P.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Equity Method Investments - Equity Method Investments Excluding the Managed Programs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023	Jun. 10, 2021
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 356,220		$ 356,220		$ 354,261
Funding commitment	44,100		44,100
Earnings from equity method investments	6,636	$ 4,355	11,500	$ 9,591
Owned Real Estate \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investments in real estate	356,220		356,220		354,261
Owned Real Estate \| Las Vegas Retail Complex \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 239,848		239,848		235,979
Owned Real Estate \| Las Vegas Retail Complex \| Construction Commitment \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investments in real estate						$ 236,300
Funding commitment						$ 261,900
Payments to settle other commitments			4,900
Earnings from equity method investments			$ 8,300	$ 5,900
Owned Real Estate \| Johnson Self Storage \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investment, ownership (as a percent)	90.00%		90.00%
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 63,130		$ 63,130		63,934
Owned Real Estate \| Kesko Senukai \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investment, ownership (as a percent)	70.00%		70.00%
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 27,723		$ 27,723		28,860
Owned Real Estate \| Harmon Retail Corner \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investment, ownership (as a percent)	15.00%		15.00%
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 24,343		$ 24,343		24,229
Owned Real Estate \| CESH \| Affiliated Entity
Equity Method Investment
Equity method investment, ownership (as a percent)	2.43%		2.43%
Equity method investments in real estate	$ 1,176		$ 1,176		$ 1,259