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, 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]
Share-based award transactions, net		3,507	$ 3,507
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			289
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(2,709)	$ (2,709)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(92)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 2,413	$ (2,413)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			(91)	(91)
Distributions declared		(63,866)	$ (62,559)	$ (1,307)
Net income		9,983	9,802	181
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 900	900	883	17
Balance as of end of period at Mar. 31, 2018		3,311,263	$ 3,230,389	$ 80,874
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Mar. 31, 2018			205,180	4,033
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 partner units, net	0
Net income	25,148	25,626
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,114	1,114
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
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 partner units, net	0
Balance as of end of period at Dec. 31, 2018		3,334,914	$ 3,256,294	$ 78,620
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2018			205,267	3,929
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2018		3,311,263	$ 3,230,389	$ 80,874
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Mar. 31, 2018			205,180	4,033
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of partner units, net		72,814	$ 72,814
Issuance of partner units, net (in units)			2,550
Share-based award transactions, net		2,196	$ 2,196
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			7
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(8,844)	$ (8,844)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(337)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 2,494	$ (2,494)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			(93)	(93)
Distributions declared		(64,532)	$ (63,279)	$ (1,253)
Net income	15,346	15,643	15,346	297
Other comprehensive income (loss)	214	214	210	4
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
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		3,334,914	$ 3,256,294	$ 78,620
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2018			205,267	3,929
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Share-based award transactions, net		3,389	$ 3,389	$ 0
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			293
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(11,926)	$ (11,926)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(478)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		0	$ 527	$ (527)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			(18)	(18)
Distributions declared		(64,884)	$ (63,578)	$ (1,306)
Net income		13,673	13,440	233
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(390)	(390)	(382)	(8)
Balance as of end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		3,274,776	$ 3,197,764	$ 77,012
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Mar. 31, 2019			205,100	3,911
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		3,334,914	$ 3,256,294	$ 78,620
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Dec. 31, 2018			205,267	3,929
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of partner units, net	2,603
Net income	29,699	30,233
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(771)	(771)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019		3,231,002	$ 3,153,212	$ 77,790
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Jun. 30, 2019			205,118	3,975
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019		3,274,776	$ 3,197,764	$ 77,012
Balance as of beginning of period (in units) at Mar. 31, 2019			205,100	3,911
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of partner units, net		2,603		$ 2,603
Issuance of partner units, net (in units)				91
Share-based award transactions, net		2,102	$ 2,102
Share-based award transactions, net (in units)			(3)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units		(169)	$ (169)
Redemption and cancellation of general partner units (in units)			(6)
Redemption of limited partner units and other		424	$ 1,209	$ (785)
Redemption of limited partner units and other (in units)			(27)	(27)
Distributions declared		(64,913)	$ (63,579)	$ (1,334)
Net income	16,259	16,560	16,259	301
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (381)	(381)	(374)	(7)
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019		$ 3,231,002	$ 3,153,212	$ 77,790
Balance as of end of period (in units) at Jun. 30, 2019			205,118	3,975