Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Rent billed									$ 116,035	$ 88,487	$ 77,871
Straight-line rent									5,794	1,933	8,038
Interest and fee income									21,490	26,777	28,129
Total revenues									143,319	117,197	114,038
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									32,901	22,830	21,588
Impairment charge									564	12,000
Property-related									1,090	4,398	3,801
General and administrative									31,403	28,535	21,096
Total operating expenses									65,958	67,763	46,485
Operating income									77,361	49,434	67,553
Other income (expense)
Interest income and other									96	1,518	43
Debt refinancing costs									(14,214)	(6,716)
Interest expense									(43,812)	(33,988)	(37,651)
Net other expense									(57,930)	(39,186)	(37,608)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									19,431	10,248	29,945
Income from discontinued operations									7,283	12,764	6,422
Net income									26,714	23,012	36,367
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									(178)	(99)	(37)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									26,536	22,913	36,330
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Revenues
Total revenues	36,802	36,774	35,396	34,347	30,677	27,621	29,534	29,365
Expenses
General and administrative									17	75	63
Total operating expenses									17	75	63
Operating income									(17)	(75)	(63)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	8,082	(237)	1,934	9,652	7,567	7,967	(1,037)	(4,249)	(17)	(75)	(63)
Income from discontinued operations	4,658	705	748	1,172	3,062	997	7,269	1,436	7,283	12,764	6,422
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									26,731	23,087	36,430
Net income	12,740	468	2,682	10,824	10,629	8,964	6,232	(2,813)	26,714	23,012	36,367
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									(178)	(99)	(37)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	12,692	424	2,640	10,780	10,593	8,919	6,223	(2,822)	26,536	22,913	36,330
Subsidiary Issuers [Member]
Revenues
Interest and fee income									6,123	6,964	10,010
Total revenues									6,123	6,964	10,010
Expenses
Property-related									217	(4)	(20)
General and administrative									27,626	27,867	20,631
Total operating expenses									27,843	27,863	20,611
Operating income									(21,720)	(20,899)	(10,601)
Other income (expense)
Interest income and other									26	(14)	51
Debt refinancing costs									(14,109)	(6,716)
Interest expense									(43,064)	(33,623)	(36,760)
Net other expense									(57,147)	(40,353)	(36,709)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(78,867)	(61,252)	(47,310)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									105,598	84,339	83,740
Net income									26,731	23,087	36,430
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									(178)	(99)	(37)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									26,553	22,988	36,393
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed									100,759	73,617	63,282
Straight-line rent									3,538	222	5,966
Interest and fee income									17,001	16,755	14,388
Total revenues									121,298	90,594	83,636
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									29,279	19,251	17,926
Impairment charge									564
Property-related									834	4,365	3,778
Total operating expenses									30,677	23,616	21,704
Operating income									90,621	66,978	61,932
Other income (expense)
Interest income and other									345
Interest expense									880	31
Net other expense									1,225	31
Income (loss) from continuing operations									91,846	67,009	61,932
Income from discontinued operations									98	121	(1,254)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									4,578	4,273	3,918
Net income									96,522	71,403	64,596
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									96,522	71,403	64,596
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed									18,368	15,900	14,589
Straight-line rent									2,256	1,711	2,072
Interest and fee income									4,601	10,572	14,150
Total revenues									25,225	28,183	30,811
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									3,622	3,579	3,662
Impairment charge										12,000
Property-related									3,131	1,067	43
General and administrative									3,760	593	402
Total operating expenses									10,513	17,239	4,107
Operating income									14,712	10,944	26,704
Other income (expense)
Interest income and other									(275)	1,532	(8)
Debt refinancing costs									(105)
Interest expense									(7,863)	(7,910)	(11,310)
Net other expense									(8,243)	(6,378)	(11,318)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									6,469	4,566	15,386
Income from discontinued operations									7,185	12,643	7,676
Net income									13,654	17,209	23,062
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									13,654	17,209	23,062
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues
Rent billed									(3,092)	(1,030)
Interest and fee income									(6,235)	(7,514)	(10,419)
Total revenues									(9,327)	(8,544)	(10,419)
Expenses
Property-related									(3,092)	(1,030)
Total operating expenses									(3,092)	(1,030)
Operating income									(6,235)	(7,514)	(10,419)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense									6,235	7,514	10,419
Net other expense									6,235	7,514	10,419
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									(136,907)	(111,699)	(124,088)
Net income									(136,907)	(111,699)	(124,088)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									178	99	37
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									$ (136,729)	$ (111,600)	$ (124,051)