Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 20,640	$ 1,676	$ 30,822	$ 11,058
Basic weighted-average common shares	134,715	110,589	129,810	110,495
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	134,715	110,600	129,810	110,504
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	20,640	1,676	30,822	11,058
Non-controlling interests' share in continuing operations	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Participating securities' share in earnings	(238)	(281)	(490)	(597)
Income from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings	20,358	1,352	30,245	10,373
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MPT common stockholders	(1,280)	1,007	(855)	2,449
Net income, less participating securities' share in earnings	$ 19,078	$ 2,359	$ 29,390	$ 12,822
Basic weighted-average common shares	134,715	110,589	129,810	110,495
Dilutive share options		11		9
Dilutive weighted-average common shares	134,715	110,600	129,810	110,504

Income (loss) from continuing operations, less participating securities' share in earnings.

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Net Income Less Participating Securities Share In Earnings

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Earnings allocated (not distributed) to participating securities under the two-class method to the extent that participating securities may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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