Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 18, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	MPW
Entity Registrant Name	MEDICAL PROPERTIES TRUST INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001287865
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		137,077,356
Entity Public Float			$ 1,304,203,900
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	MPT Operating Partnership, L.P.
Entity Central Index Key	0001524607
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer