SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		$ 158,365	$ 70,205	$ 79,383
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		154	(1,634)	(1,433)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge	[1]	12,933	7,169	(4,358)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		13,087	5,535	(5,791)
Comprehensive income		171,452	75,740	73,592
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		18	71	30
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		171,470	75,811	73,622
Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		(509,045)	(219,934)	(250,032)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		(509,045)	(219,934)	(250,032)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		(509,045)	(219,934)	(250,032)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		158,383	70,494	79,444
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		158,383	70,494	79,444
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		158,383	70,494	79,444
Operating Partnership | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		212,432	78,783	95,690
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		(2,821)	(2,080)	5,542
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		13,078	7,169	(4,358)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		10,257	5,089	1,184
Comprehensive income		222,689	83,872	96,874
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		222,689	83,872	96,874
Sabra Capital Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		0	0	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		0	0	0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries of 2021 Notes and 2023 Notes | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		190,374	134,154	146,062
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		2,233	364	(5,507)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		(145)	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		2,088	364	(5,507)
Comprehensive income		192,462	134,518	140,555
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		192,462	134,518	140,555
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of 2021 Notes and 2023 Notes | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		106,221	6,708	8,219
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		742	82	(1,468)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge		0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		742	82	(1,468)
Comprehensive income		106,963	6,790	6,751
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		18	71	30
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		$ 106,981	$ 6,861	$ 6,781

[1] Amounts are net of provision for income taxes of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and none for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.