Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Treasury shares [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Member]	Distributions in excess of net income [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity	$ 1,926,489	$ 589	$ 139	$ 2,283,440	$ (67,846)	$ 12,566	$ (302,776)	$ 377
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		58,952,404	13,850,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted share units issued to Trustees		18,036
Issuance of nonvested shares, net		218,285
Issuance of nonvested shares, net	(1,907)	$ (2)		(1,941)	36
Purchase of common shares for vesting	8,223				8,223
Amortization of nonvested shares	(5,036)			(5,036)
Share option expense	830			830
share based compensation included in retirement severance expense	6,377			6,377
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(27,310)					(27,310)
Change in unrealized gain/loss on derivatives	20,154					20,154
Net income attributable to EPR Properties	141,782						141,782
Issuances of common shares (in shares)		1,871,429
Issuances of common shares	$ 99,916	$ 19		99,897
Stock option exercises, net (in shares)	438,236	438,236
Stock option exercises, net	$ (3,191)	$ (5)		(16,263)	(19,459)
Dividends to common and preferred shareholders	(174,696)						(174,696)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015		61,498,390	13,850,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity	$ 1,989,071	$ 615	$ 139	$ 2,413,784	$ (95,564)	$ 5,410	$ (335,690)	$ 377