Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Class A Common Stock
Equity:
Common stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	127,026,839	125,087,268
Common stock, shares outstanding	127,026,839	125,087,268
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Real estate investments, VIE	$ 0	$ 80,419
Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP)
Partners’ Capital:
Limited partner's capital, units issued	1,929,942	2,154,942
Limited partner's capital, units outstanding	1,929,942	2,154,942
General partner's capital, units issued	127,026,839	125,087,268
General partner's capital, units outstanding	127,026,839	125,087,268
Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP) | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Real estate investments, VIE	$ 0	$ 80,419