Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	$ 1,275,399	$ 990,548
Real estate held for sale		37,514
Mortgage loans	165,000	165,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,440,399	1,193,062
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(103,737)	(71,787)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,336,662	1,121,275
Cash & cash equivalents	102,726	98,408		15,307	11,748
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	125,000
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
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	828,815	899,462
Non-controlling interests		114
Total equity	828,815	899,576		671,575	626,343
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,621,874	1,348,814
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Cash & cash equivalents					5
Interest and rent receivables	29,862	26,176
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	21,955	21,944
Investment in subsidiaries	829,205	899,949
Total Assets	851,160	921,893
Liabilities
Debt, net	689,849	369,970
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	22,345	22,317
Total liabilities	22,345	22,317
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	828,815	899,462
Non-controlling interests		114
Total equity	828,815	899,576
Total Liabilities and Equity	851,160	921,893
Subsidiary Issuers [Member]
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	37	297
Gross investment in real estate assets	37	297
Net investment in real estate assets	37	297
Cash & cash equivalents	101,230	96,822		14,814	10,481
Interest and rent receivables	399	157
Other loans	177	178
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	872,382	774,771
Investment in subsidiaries	489,858	390,232
Other assets	27,284	10,289
Total Assets	1,491,367	1,272,746
Liabilities
Debt, net	635,820	361,537
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	25,783	10,824
Deferred revenue	559	436
Total liabilities	662,162	372,797
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	829,205	899,835
Non-controlling interests		114
Total equity	829,205	899,949
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,491,367	1,272,746
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	1,127,441	861,599
Mortgage loans	165,000	165,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,292,441	1,026,599
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(89,788)	(61,460)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,202,653	965,139
Interest and rent receivables	22,525	20,692
Straight-line rent receivables	24,000	20,052
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	(888,866)	(747,895)
Investment in subsidiaries	43,008	42,970
Other assets	1,727	1,182
Total Assets	405,047	302,140
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,576	2,378
Deferred revenue	17,488	17,616
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	27,874	17,019
Total liabilities	47,938	37,013
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	357,109	265,127
Non-controlling interests
Total equity	357,109	265,127
Total Liabilities and Equity	405,047	302,140
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	147,921	128,652
Real estate held for sale		37,514
Gross investment in real estate assets	147,921	166,166
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(13,949)	(10,327)
Net investment in real estate assets	133,972	155,839
Cash & cash equivalents	1,496	1,586		493	1,262
Interest and rent receivables	6,938	5,327
Straight-line rent receivables	9,993	8,860
Other loans	74,662	50,807
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	(5,471)	(48,820)
Other assets	14,781	11,587
Total Assets	236,371	185,186
Liabilities
Debt, net	54,029	8,433
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	421	455
Deferred revenue	5,260	5,085
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	904	3,138
Total liabilities	60,614	17,111
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	175,757	168,075
Non-controlling interests
Total equity	175,757	168,075
Total Liabilities and Equity	236,371	185,186
Eliminations [Member]
Real estate assets [Abstract]
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,362,071)	(1,333,151)
Total Assets	(1,362,071)	(1,333,151)
Liabilities
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity	(1,362,071)	(1,333,037)
Non-controlling interests		(114)
Total equity	(1,362,071)	(1,333,151)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ (1,362,071)	$ (1,333,151)