Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes In Partners' Capital - HTALP (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	General Partner	Limited Partner	Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP)
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 1,567,510	$ 1,417	$ 1,568,927
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011		228,491	156
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of units under the DRIP (in units)		3,362
Issuances under the DRIP		31,915		31,915
Redemptions of general partner units (in units)		(18,150)
Redemptions of general partner units		(185,278)		(185,278)
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)		679	2,875
Share-based award transactions, net		6,365	5,925	12,290
Distributions		(111,165)	(73)	(111,238)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	(22,588)	(22,588)	9	(22,579)
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2012		1,286,759	7,278	1,294,037
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Sep. 30, 2012		214,382	3,031
Balance as of beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	(2,952)			(2,951)
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2012				1,294,037
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012		1,254,536	11,663	1,266,199
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012		214,652	3,056
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of general partner units (in units)		20,707
Issuance of general partner units		228,306		228,306
Redemptions of general partner units (in units)		(28)
Redemptions of general partner units		(287)		(287)
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)		412	(2)
Share-based award transactions, net		1,952	3,177	5,129
Distributions		(98,630)	(1,021)	(99,651)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	20,199	20,199	384	20,583
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2013		1,406,076	14,203	1,420,279
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Sep. 30, 2013		235,743	3,054
Balance as of beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	4,823			4,996
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2013				$ 1,420,279