Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 28, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35568
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-4738467
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 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 Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		218,573,791
Entity Central Index Key	0001360604
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP (HTALP)
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	333-190916
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA HOLDINGS, LP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-4738347
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	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31