Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities	$ 79,270	$ 60,637	$ 62,751
Investing activities
Real estate acquired	(246,511)	(137,808)	(421)
Principal received on loans receivable	4,289	90,486	4,305
Proceeds from sale of real estate	41,130	97,669	15,000
Investment in loans receivable	(28,144)	(11,637)	(23,243)
Construction in progress and other	(36,385)	(15,929)	(7,777)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(265,621)	22,781	(12,136)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	89,600	(137,200)	(55,800)
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(246,262)	(216,765)	(1,232)
Distributions paid	(89,601)	(77,087)	(61,649)
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs		288,066	68,003
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	8,621	3,667	3,390
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(21,689)	(9,498)	232
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	190,669	(317)	(47,056)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	4,318	83,101	3,559
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	98,408	15,307	11,748
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	102,726	98,408	15,307
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities	(209)	(29)	(268)
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	89,551	(211,181)	(6,699)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	89,551	(211,181)	(6,699)
Financing activities
Distributions paid	(89,342)	(76,856)	(61,419)
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs		288,066	68,003
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities			378
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(89,342)	211,210	6,962
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period			(5)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			5
Subsidiary Issuers [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities	(48,779)	(54,909)	(35,554)
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(92,052)	99,564	89,642
Construction in progress and other	(6,466)	(108)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(98,518)	99,456	89,642
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	50,000	(96,000)	(55,000)
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(237,666)	(216,520)	(960)
Distributions paid	(89,601)	(77,087)	(61,649)
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs		288,066	68,003
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(21,028)	(9,498)	(149)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	151,705	37,461	(49,755)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	4,408	82,008	4,333
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	96,822	14,814	10,481
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	101,230	96,822	14,814
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities	112,311	89,780	69,738
Investing activities
Real estate acquired	(241,626)	(137,808)	(421)
Principal received on loans receivable	230
Proceeds from sale of real estate		2,669
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	142,448	54,409	(53,811)
Investment in loans receivable	(230)	(5,000)	(15,000)
Construction in progress and other	(24,081)	(8,267)	(3,067)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(123,259)	(93,997)	(72,299)
Financing activities
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	10,948	4,217	2,561
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	10,948	4,217	2,561
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities	15,947	25,795	28,835
Investing activities
Real estate acquired	(4,885)
Principal received on loans receivable	4,059	90,486	4,305
Proceeds from sale of real estate	41,130	95,000	15,000
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(50,605)	(154,002)	(35,716)
Investment in loans receivable	(27,914)	(6,637)	(8,243)
Construction in progress and other	(5,838)	(7,554)	(4,710)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(44,053)	17,293	(29,364)
Financing activities
Revolving credit facilities, net	39,600	(41,200)	(800)
Payments of term debt	(8,596)	(245)	(272)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(2,327)	(550)	829
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(661)		3
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	28,016	(41,995)	(240)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(90)	1,093	(769)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,586	493	1,262
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,496	1,586	493
Eliminations [Member]
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(89,342)	211,210	6,584
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(89,342)	211,210	6,584
Financing activities
Distributions paid	89,342	76,856	61,419
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs		(288,066)	(68,003)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ 89,342	$ (211,210)	$ (6,584)