Earnings Per Share (Calculation Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 474	$ 8,663	$ 13,834	$ 4,920
Basic weighted-average common shares	110,714,000	110,046,000	110,568,000	97,573,000
Dilutive weighted-average common shares/units	110,719,000	110,046,000	110,576,000	97,575,000
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	474	8,663	13,834	4,920
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(43)	(45)	(131)	(63)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(264)	(316)	(860)	(994)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	167	8,302	12,843	3,863
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners	(6)	301	141	7,463
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	161	8,603	12,984	11,326
Basic weighted-average common shares	110,714,000	110,046,000	110,568,000	97,573,000
Dilutive share options	5,000		8,000	2,000
Dilutive weighted-average common shares/units	110,719,000	110,046,000	110,576,000	97,575,000
MPT Operating Partnership L.P. [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	492	8,654	13,896	4,994
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(43)	(45)	(131)	(63)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(264)	(316)	(860)	(994)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	185	8,293	12,905	3,937
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners	(6)	301	141	7,463
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 179	$ 8,594	$ 13,046	$ 11,400
Basic weighted-average common shares	110,714,000	110,046,000	110,568,000	97,573,000
Dilutive share options	5,000		8,000	2,000
Dilutive weighted-average common shares/units	110,719,000	110,046,000	110,576,000	97,575,000
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Stock options excluded from earnings per share computation	100,000	100,000	100,000	100,000

Income (loss) from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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