SUMMARIZED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 62,481	$ 18,791
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	(374)	(558)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	9,898	728
Total other comprehensive income	9,524	170
Comprehensive income	72,005	18,961
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(10)	32
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	71,995	18,993
Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(172,807)	(62,040)
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income	(172,807)	(62,040)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	(172,807)	(62,040)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	62,471	18,823
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	0	285
Total other comprehensive income	0	285
Comprehensive income	62,471	19,108
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	62,471	19,108
Operating Partnership | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	69,343	23,436
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	841	(953)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	9,903	443
Total other comprehensive income	10,744	(510)
Comprehensive income	80,087	22,926
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	80,087	22,926
Sabra Capital Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	0	0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	33,174	37,087
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	(928)	299
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	(5)	0
Total other comprehensive income	(933)	299
Comprehensive income	32,241	37,386
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	32,241	37,386
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	70,300	1,485
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation loss	(287)	96
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	(287)	96
Comprehensive income	70,013	1,581
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(10)	32
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.	$ 70,003	$ 1,613