Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities:
Net income attributable to EPR Properties	$ 262,968	$ 224,982	$ 194,532
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt	977	0	0
Impairment charges	10,195	0	0
Gain on sale of real estate	(41,942)	(5,315)	(23,829)
Gain on insurance recovery	(606)	(4,684)	0
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	812	(1,065)	(1,136)
Non-cash fee income	0	(1,588)	0
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	(199)
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff	1,549	905	270
Equity in income from joint ventures	(72)	(619)	(969)
Distributions from joint ventures	442	816	540
Depreciation and amortization	132,946	107,573	89,617
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,167	4,787	4,588
Amortization of above/below market leases and tenant allowances, net	(107)	183	192
Share-based compensation expense to management and trustees	14,142	11,164	8,508
Share-based compensation expense included in retirement severance expense	0	0	6,377
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(858)	(1,619)	2,017
Decrease (increase) in mortgage notes accrued interest receivable	467	572	(4,133)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net	8,866	(37,627)	(11,623)
Increase in direct financing lease receivable	(1,208)	(3,255)	(3,559)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(1,691)	(3,320)	343
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,920)	17,025	5,711
Increase (decrease) in unearned rents and interest	4,927	(2,713)	10,705
Net operating cash provided by continuing operations	391,100	306,202	277,952
Net operating cash provided by discontinued operations	0	0	508
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	391,100	306,202	278,460
Investing activities:
Acquisition of rental properties and other assets	(397,697)	(219,169)	(179,820)
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate	191,569	23,860	46,718
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	(133,697)	(192,539)	(72,698)
Proceeds from mortgage note receivable paydown	21,784	72,072	40,956
Investment in promissory notes receivable	1,928	1,546	0
Proceeds from promissory note receivable paydown	1,599	0	0
Proceeds from sale of infrastructure related to issuance of revenue bonds	0	43,462	0
Proceeds from insurance recovery	606	4,610	0
Proceeds from Sale of Lease Receivables	0	20,951	4,741
Additions to properties under development	(384,449)	(413,848)	(408,436)
Net cash used by investing activities	(702,213)	(662,147)	(568,539)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities	1,371,000	1,380,000	856,914
Principal payments on long-term debt	(823,288)	(865,266)	(503,314)
Deferred financing fees paid	(14,318)	(14,385)	(7,047)
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff (cash portion)	(7)	(482)	0
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares	99,069	142,628	190,158
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	144,490	0	0
Payments for Repurchase of Redeemable Preferred Stock	125,025	0	0
Impact of stock option exercises, net	(5)	(1,488)	(3,394)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(6,729)	(4,211)	(8,222)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(311,721)	(265,662)	(233,073)
Net cash provided by financing activities	333,466	371,134	292,022
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	229	(137)	(996)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	22,582	15,052	947
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	19,335	4,283	3,336
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	41,917	19,335	4,283
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activity:
Transfer of property under development to rental property	408,593	454,922	392,786
Transfer of land held for development to property under development	0	0	167,600
Issuance of nonvested shares and restricted share units at fair value, including nonvested shares issued for payment of bonuses	24,062	19,626	14,285
Conversion of mortgage note receivable to rental property	9,237	0	120,051
Conversion of rental property to mortgage note receivable	11,897	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	657,473	0	0
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Net Nonmonetary Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed)	12,083	0	0
Transfer of investment in a direct financing lease to rental properties	35,807	0	0
Adjustment of noncontrolling interest to additional paid in capital	0	0	377
Sale of investment in direct financing leases, net in exchange for mortgage note receivable	0	70,304	0
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for interest	136,345	96,410	90,850
Cash paid during the year for income taxes	1,499	1,684	1,956
Interest cost capitalized	9,879	10,697	18,546
Increase in accrued capital expenditures	$ 333	$ 6,035	$ 417