Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Real estate assets
Land	$ 111,309	$ 91,604
Buildings and improvements	1,079,787	858,571
Construction in progress and other	30,903	6,730
Intangible lease assets	53,400	33,643
Mortgage loans	165,000	165,000
Real estate held for sale		37,514
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,440,399	1,193,062
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(93,430)	(64,946)
Accumulated amortization	(10,307)	(6,841)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,336,662	1,121,275
Cash and cash equivalents	102,726	98,408
Interest and rent receivables	29,862	26,176
Straight-line rent receivables	33,993	28,912
Other loans	74,839	50,985
Other assets	43,792	23,058
Total Assets	1,621,874	1,348,814
Liabilities
Debt, net	689,849	369,970
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	51,125	35,974
Deferred revenue	23,307	23,137
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	28,778	20,157
Total liabilities	793,059	449,238
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 150,000 shares; issued and outstanding -110,786 shares at December 31, 2011 and 110,225 shares at December 31, 2010	111	110
Additional paid-in capital	1,055,256	1,051,785
Distributions in excess of net income	(214,059)	(148,530)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(12,231)	(3,641)
Treasury shares, at cost	(262)	(262)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity	828,815	899,462
Non-controlling interests		114
Total Equity	828,815	899,576
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,621,874	1,348,814
Common Units [Member]
Equity
Total Equity	111	110
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land	111,309	91,604
Buildings and improvements	1,079,787	858,571
Construction in progress and other	30,903	6,730
Intangible lease assets	53,400	33,643
Mortgage loans	165,000	165,000
Real estate held for sale		37,514
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,440,399	1,193,062
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(93,430)	(64,946)
Accumulated amortization	(10,307)	(6,841)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,336,662	1,121,275
Cash and cash equivalents	102,726	98,408
Interest and rent receivables	29,862	26,176
Straight-line rent receivables	33,993	28,912
Other loans	74,839	50,985
Other assets	43,792	23,058
Total Assets	1,621,874	1,348,814
Liabilities
Debt, net	689,849	369,970
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	28,780	13,658
Deferred revenue	23,307	23,137
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	28,778	20,157
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	21,955	21,943
Total liabilities	792,669	448,865
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity
General partner - issued and outstanding - 1,107 units at December 31, 2011 and 1,102 units at December 31, 2010	8,418	9,035
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(12,231)	(3,641)
Total MPT Operating Partnership Capital	829,205	899,835
Non-controlling interests		114
Total Equity	829,205	899,949
Total capital	829,205	899,949
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,621,874	1,348,814
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Units [Member]
Equity
Limited Partners Capital	833,018	894,441
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | LTIP Units [Member]
Equity
Limited Partners Capital