CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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, 2016		$ 1,780,417	$ 1,687,544	$ 92,873
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2016			141,719	4,323
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of general partner units		1,624,222	$ 1,624,222
Issuance of general partner units (in units)			58,623
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition		610		$ 610
Issuance of limited partner units in connection with an acquisition (in units)				21
Share-based award transactions, net		3,839	$ 3,839
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			198
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(3,339)	$ (3,339)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(114)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 5,532	$ (5,532)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			221	(221)
Distributions declared		(105,924)	$ (103,273)	$ (2,651)
Net income	$ 7,627	8,096	7,627	469
Other comprehensive gain (loss)	(836)	(836)	(816)	(20)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2017		3,307,085	$ 3,221,336	$ 85,749
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Jun. 30, 2017			200,647	4,123
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		3,363,448	$ 3,279,052	$ 84,396
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2017			204,892	4,124
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of general partner units		72,814	$ 72,814
Issuance of general partner units (in units)			2,550
Share-based award transactions, net		5,703	$ 5,703
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			296
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(11,553)	$ (11,553)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(429)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 4,907	$ (4,907)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			184	(184)
Distributions declared		(128,398)	$ (125,838)	$ (2,560)
Net income	25,148	25,626	25,148	478
Other comprehensive gain (loss)	$ 1,114	1,114	1,093	21
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2018		$ 3,328,754	$ 3,251,326	$ 77,428
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Jun. 30, 2018			207,493	3,940