Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] MPT Operating Partnership L.P [Member] Mpt Operating Partnership L P [Member] MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] Statement [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Public Float Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Units [Member] LTIP Units [Member] Ltip Units [Member] LTIP Units [Member] Assets [Abstract] Assets Real estate assets Real estate assets [Abstract] Real estate assets Land Buildings and Improvements, Gross Buildings and improvements Buildings and Improvements, Gross, Total Buildings and improvements Construction in Progress, Gross Construction in progress and other Construction in progress and other Intangible lease assets. Intangible lease assets Intangible lease assets Intangible lease assets Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Commercial and Consumer, Net, Total Mortgage loans Real Estate Held-for-sale Real estate held for sale Real Estate Held for Sale Real estate held for sale Gross investment in real estate assets Gross Investment In Real Estate Assets Gross investment in real estate assets Gross investment in real estate assets Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation, Accumulated Depreciation Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Real estate assets accumulated amortization. Real Estate Assets Accumulated Amortization Accumulated amortization Accumulated amortization Net Investment In Real Estate Assets Net Investment In Real Estate Assets Net investment in real estate assets Net investment in real estate assets Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash & cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Interest and rent receivable Interest And Rent Receivable Interest and rent receivables Interest and rent receivables, Book Value Interest and rent receivables Straight-line rent receivable Straight Line Rent Receivable Straight-line rent receivables Straight-line rent receivables Other loans Other Loans Other loans Other Assets Other assets Other assets Assets Total Assets Total Assets Liabilities And Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Equity Liabilities [Abstract] Liabilities Long Term Debt Debt, net, Book Value Total senior notes available Long-term Debt, Total Debt, net Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Current And Noncurrent Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Accounts payable and accrued expenses Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Ending Balance Deferred Revenue, Beginning Balance Deferred Revenue, Total Deferred revenue Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Lease Deposits And Other Obligations To Tenants Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Payable due to parent company Payable Due To Parent Company Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Total Liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Equity Equity Preferred stock value Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding Common stock value Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 150,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 110,225 shares at December 31, 2010 and 78,725 shares at December 31, 2009 Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total 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 General Partners' Capital Account General partner - issued and outstanding - 1,107 units at December 31, 2011 and 1,102 units at December 31, 2010 General Partners' Capital Account, Total General Partner - issued and outstanding - 1,102 units at December 31, 2010 and 787 units at December 31, 2009 Limited Partners' Capital Account Limited Partners Capital Limited Partners' Capital Account, Total Additional paid in capital common stock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Retained earningsaccumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Distributions in excess of net income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury Stock Value Treasury shares, at cost Treasury shares, at cost Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury shares, at cost Stockholders Equity Balance, Value Balance, Value Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholder's equity Partners' Capital Partners' Capital, Ending Balance Partners' Capital, Beginning Balance Total MPT Operating Partnership capital Total MPT Operating Partnership Capital Total Medical Properties Trust Inc. stockholder's equity Minority Interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Non-controlling interests Non-controlling interests Non-controlling interests Balance, Value Balance, Value Balance, Value Total Equity Total equity Capital Capital, Unit Value Capital, Unit Value Total capital Total capital Total capital Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Total Liabilities and Equity Total Liabilities and Equity Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common Stock Par Or Stated Value PerS hare Common stock, par value Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, shares outstanding General Partners' Capital Account, Units Issued General Partner, units issued General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding General Partner, units outstanding Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Issued Limited Partners, units issued Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding Limited Partners, units outstanding Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract] Revenues Abstract Revenues Rent billed Rent Billed Rent billed Straight-line rent Straight Line Rent Straight-line rent Interest and Fee Income, Loans, Commercial, Real Estate Interest and fee income Revenues Total revenues Total revenues Costs And Expenses Abstract Expenses Depreciation And Amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Real estate depreciation and amortization Loan impairment charge. Loan Impairment Charge Impairment charge Direct Costs Of Leased And Rented Property Or Equipment Property-related Acquisition Costs Acquisition expenses General And Administrative Expense General and administrative General and administrative Costs And Expenses Total operating expense Total operating expenses Operating Income Loss Operating income Operating income Nonoperating Income Expense Abstract Other income (expense) Investment Income Interest Interest and other income Interest income and other Debt refinancing costs Debt Refinancing Costs Debt refinancing costs Debt refinancing costs Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Nonoperating Income Expense Net other expense Net other expenses Net other income (expense) Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Income from continuing operations Income (loss) from continuing operations Income from continuing operations Income (loss) from continuing operations Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Income from discontinued operations Income from discontinued operations Income from discontinued operations Income (loss) from discontinued operations Profit Loss Net income Net income Net income Net income Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to non-controlling interests Net income attributable to non-controlling interests Non-controlling interests share in continuing operations Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Net income attributable to non-controlling interests Net Income Loss Net income Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders Earnings per share - basic Earnings per share/unit - basic Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Outstanding Share, Total Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Outstanding Share, Total Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - basic Net income attributable to MPT Operating Partnership partners Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average shares outstanding - basic Basic weighted-average common shares/units Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic Earnings per share - diluted Earnings per share/unit - diluted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Income from continuing operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share Income from discontinued operations - diluted per share/unit Income from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share, Total Earnings per share/unit - diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders per share - diluted Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders/Operating Partnership partners Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted average shares/units outstanding - diluted Diluted weighted-average common shares Diluted weighted-average common shares/units Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted Consolidated Statements Of Equity/Capital [Abstract] Shares, Issued Balance, Shares Balance, Shares Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Comprehensive income: Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders Stock issued during period, value, deferred stock units issued to directors. Stock Issued During Period, Value, Deferred Stock Units Issued To Directors Deferred stock units issued to directors Deferred stock units issued to directors Stock issued during period, shares, deferred stock units issued to directors. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Deferred Stock Units Issued To Directors Deferred stock units issued to directors, shares Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Total Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation Stock issued during period, shares, stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Vesting And Amortization Of Stock-Based Compensation Stock vesting and amortization of stock-based compensation, shares Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs) Stock issued during period, shares and proceeds from offering cost. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Proceeds From Offering Cost Proceeds from offering (net of offering costs), shares Extinguishment of Debt, Amount Extinguishment of convertible debt Extinguishment of convertible debt Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests Purchase of non-controlling interest Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distributions to non-controlling interests Distributions to non-controlling interests Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Dividends declared Dividends declared Dividends declared ($1.01 per common share) Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Dividends declared per common share Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Operating activities Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Depreciation and amortization Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts, Total Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and debt discount Premium paid on extinguishment of debt Premium Paid On Extinguishment Of Debt Premium on extinguishment of debt Straight-line rent revenue Straight Line Rent Revenue Straight-line rent revenue Straight-line rent revenue Share Based Compensation Share/Unit-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Share/Unit-based compensation Gain Loss On Sale Of Property (Gain) loss from sale of real estate Gain on sale of real estate Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property, Total Gain on sale of real estate Provision for Loan, Lease, and Other Losses Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans Provision for Loan, Lease, and Other Losses, Total Provision for uncollectible receivables and loans Impairment of Real Estate Impairment charges against real estate Straight-line rent write-off Payment of interest on early prepayment of debt. Payment Of Interest On Early Prepayment Of Debt Payment of interest on early prepayment of debt Payment of discount on extinguishment of debt Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other Other adjustments Other adjustments Other adjustments Decrease (increase) in: Increase (decrease) in interest and rent receivable. Increase (Decrease) In Interest And Rent Receivable Interest and rent receivable Interest and rent receivable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Other assets Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Net cash provided by (Used in) operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract Investing activities Payments To Acquire Real Estate Real estate acquired Total Real estate acquired Proceeds From Sale Of Productive Assets Sale of real estate Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Total Proceeds from sale of real estate Proceeds From Collection Of Loans Receivable Principal received on loans receivable Payments To Acquire Loans Receivable Investment in loans receivable Investment in loans receivable Payments for Construction in Process Construction in progress Construction in progress Payments to Acquire Other Investments Other investments, net Other investments Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Abstract Financing activities Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Proceeds from term debt, net of discount Repayments Of Long Term Debt Payments of term debt Term loan paid off Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Credit facility paid Payment of deferred financing costs Payment of deferred financing costs Payments of Financing Costs, Total Revolving credit facilities, net Revolving Credit Facilities Net Revolving credit facilities, net Revolving credit facilities, net Payments Of Ordinary Dividends Distributions paid Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Total Distributions paid Proceeds From Lease Deposits and Other Obligations to Tenants Proceeds From Lease Deposits and Other Obligations to Tenants Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Proceeds from lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock Net proceeds from issuance of common stock Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs Proceeds from issuance of common stock Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities Other Other financing activities Other Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period Interest Paid Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $896 in 2011, $63 in 2010, and $ - in 2009 Interest Paid, Total Interest paid Supplemental schedule of non cash investing activities [Abstract] Supplemental Schedule Of Non Cash Investing Activities Abstract Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities: Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Assumption Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Assumption Real estate acquired via assumption of mortgage loan Supplemental Schedule Of Non Cash Financing Activities Abstract Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities: Loans Assumed Mortgage Loan Real Estate Acquired Loans Assumed Mortgage Loan Real Estate Acquired Assumption of mortgage loan (as part of real estate acquired) Dividends Payable Amount Dividends declared, not paid Distributions declared, unpaid Interest Paid, Capitalized Interest paid, capitalized Organization [Abstract] Organization [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block Organization Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies Text Block Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Real Estate And Loans Receivable [Abstract] Real Estate And Loans Receivable [Abstract] Real Estate And Loans Receivables [Text Block] Real Estate And Loans Receivables [Text Block] Real Estate And Loans Receivable Debt [Abstract] Debt [Abstract] Long Term Debt Text Block Debt Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes Earnings Per Share/Unit [Abstract] Earnings per common share/units - basic and diluted Earnings Per Share Text Block Earnings Per Share/Unit Stock Awards [Abstract] Stock Awards [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Text Block Stock Awards Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Text Block Commitments And Contingencies Common stock, partner's capital [Abstract] Common Stock/Partner's Capital [Abstract] Common stock and partner's capital disclosure [Text Block] Common Stock And Partner's Capital Disclosure [Text Block] Common Stock/Partner's Capital Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures Text Block Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Disclosure Text Block Discontinued Operations Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]