CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP)	Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP) General Partners’ Capital	Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP) Limited Partners’ Capital
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 1,406,958	$ 1,379,694	$ 27,264
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2015			127,027,000	1,930,000
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of general partner units, net		417,163	$ 417,163
Issuance of general partner units, net (in units)			14,138,000
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition		71,754		$ 71,754
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition (in units)				2,650,000
Share-based award transactions, net		5,136	$ 5,136
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			393,000
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(2,425)	$ (2,425)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(87,000)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		(676)	$ 5,033	$ (5,709)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			257,000	(257,000)
Distributions declared		(124,820)	$ (121,686)	$ (3,134)
Net income	$ 29,361	30,163	29,361	802
Other comprehensive loss	0	0
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2016		1,803,253	$ 1,712,276	$ 90,977
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Sep. 30, 2016			141,728,000	4,323,000
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		1,780,417	$ 1,687,544	$ 92,873
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2016			141,719,000	4,323,000
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of general partner units, net		1,624,222	$ 1,624,222
Issuance of general partner units, net (in units)			58,623,000
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition		$ 610		$ 610
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition (in units)		20,687		21,000
Share-based award transactions, net		$ 5,493	$ 5,493
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			234,000
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(3,413)	$ (3,413)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(116,000)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 5,694	$ (5,694)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			227,000	(227,000)
Distributions declared		(168,416)	$ (164,480)	$ (3,936)
Net income	21,390	22,025	21,390	635
Other comprehensive loss	$ (631)	(631)	(615)	(16)
Balance as of end of period at Sep. 30, 2017		$ 3,260,307	$ 3,175,835	$ 84,472
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Sep. 30, 2017			200,687,000	4,117,000