Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 10, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35568
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-4738467
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Address, Address Line One	16435 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 320,
Entity Address, City or Town	Scottsdale,
Entity Address, State or Province	AZ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	85254
City Area Code	(480)
Local Phone Number	998-3478
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	HTA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 5,595,914,012
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		216,686,932
Entity Central Index Key	0001360604
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10-14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP)
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	333-190916
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA HOLDINGS, LP
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-4738347
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001495491
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31