Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Aug. 05, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001332349
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 6.5
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		185,914,848
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2016