SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION - Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		$ 279,115	$ 158,365	$ 70,205
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		720	154	(1,634)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	[1]	292
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	[1]		12,933	7,169
Total other comprehensive income		1,012	13,087	5,535
Comprehensive income		280,127	171,452	75,740
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)	18	71
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		280,094	171,470	75,811
Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		(773,612)	(509,045)	(219,934)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			0	0
Total other comprehensive income		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		(773,612)	(509,045)	(219,934)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		(773,612)	(509,045)	(219,934)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		279,082	158,383	70,494
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			0	0
Total other comprehensive income		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		279,082	158,383	70,494
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		279,082	158,383	70,494
Operating Partnership | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		307,736	212,432	78,783
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		4,329	(2,821)	(2,080)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		244
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			13,078	7,169
Total other comprehensive income		4,573	10,257	5,089
Comprehensive income		312,309	222,689	83,872
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		312,309	222,689	83,872
Sabra Capital Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		0	0	0
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		0	0	0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			0	0
Total other comprehensive income		0	0	0
Comprehensive income		0	0	0
Comprehensive (income) 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		214,243	190,374	134,154
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		(2,751)	2,233	364
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		48
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			(145)	0
Total other comprehensive income		(2,703)	2,088	364
Comprehensive income		211,540	192,462	134,518
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		211,540	192,462	134,518
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of 2021 Notes and 2023 Notes | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income		251,666	106,221	6,708
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		(858)	742	82
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges		0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			0	0
Total other comprehensive income		(858)	742	82
Comprehensive income		250,808	106,963	6,790
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)	18	71
Comprehensive income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.		$ 250,775	$ 106,981	$ 6,861

[1] Amounts are net of income tax benefit of $48,000 and expense of $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and none for the year ended December 31, 2016.