Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment in direct financing leases	$ 314,412
Real estate held for sale		59,793
Mortgage loans	368,650	165,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,963,777	1,429,850
Net investment in real estate assets	1,837,043	1,336,662
Cash and cash equivalents	37,311	102,726	98,408	15,307
Interest and rent receivables	45,289	29,862
Straight-line rent receivables	35,860	33,993
Other loans	159,243	74,839
Other assets	64,140	43,792
Total Assets	2,178,886	1,621,874
Debt, net	1,025,160	689,849
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	65,961	51,125
Deferred revenue	20,609	23,307
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	17,342	28,778
Total liabilities	1,129,072	793,059
Total Equity	1,049,814	828,815	899,576	671,575
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,178,886	1,621,874
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	27,393	21,955
Investment in subsidiaries	1,050,204	829,205
Total Assets	1,077,597	851,160
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	27,783	22,345
Total liabilities	27,783	22,345
Total Equity	1,049,814	828,815
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,077,597	851,160
Subsidiary Issuers
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	28	37
Gross investment in real estate assets	28	37
Net investment in real estate assets	28	37
Cash and cash equivalents	35,483	101,230	96,822	14,813
Interest and rent receivables	212	399
Other loans	177	178
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	1,373,941	872,380
Investment in subsidiaries	647,029	489,858
Other assets	31,097	27,285
Total Assets	2,087,967	1,491,367
Debt, net	1,010,962	635,820
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	26,658	25,783
Deferred revenue	143	559
Total liabilities	1,037,763	662,162
Total Equity	1,050,204	829,205
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,087,967	1,491,367
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	1,214,740	1,139,073
Net investment in direct financing leases	110,155
Real estate held for sale		4,240
Mortgage loans	268,650	165,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,593,545	1,308,313
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(120,282)	(88,438)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,473,263	1,219,875
Cash and cash equivalents	1,565	1,409	1,387	454
Interest and rent receivables	29,315	22,528
Straight-line rent receivables	29,314	22,813
Other loans		5,491
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	(1,010,400)	(847,921)
Investment in subsidiaries	42,666	43,008
Other assets	1,522	2,151
Total Assets	567,245	469,354
Debt, net		39,600
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	10,492	2,578
Deferred revenue	19,643	21,100
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	16,607	26,400
Total liabilities	46,742	89,678
Total Equity	520,503	379,676
Total Liabilities and Equity	567,245	469,354
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	65,947	65,947
Net investment in direct financing leases	204,257
Real estate held for sale		55,553
Mortgage loans	100,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	370,204	121,500
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(6,452)	(4,750)
Net investment in real estate assets	363,752	116,750
Cash and cash equivalents	263	87	199	40
Interest and rent receivables	15,762	6,935
Straight-line rent receivables	6,546	11,180
Other loans	159,066	69,170
Net intercompany receivable (payable)	(390,934)	(46,414)
Other assets	31,521	14,356
Total Assets	185,976	172,064
Debt, net	14,198	14,429
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,028	419
Deferred revenue	823	1,648
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	735	2,378
Total liabilities	16,784	18,874
Total Equity	169,192	153,190
Total Liabilities and Equity	185,976	172,064
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,739,899)	(1,362,071)
Total Assets	(1,739,899)	(1,362,071)
Total Equity	(1,739,899)	(1,362,071)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(1,739,899)	(1,362,071)
Total Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets	1,280,715	1,205,057
Net investment in direct financing leases	314,412
Real estate held for sale		59,793
Mortgage loans	368,650	165,000
Gross investment in real estate assets	1,963,777	1,429,850
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(126,734)	(93,188)
Net investment in real estate assets	1,837,043	1,336,662
Cash and cash equivalents	37,311	102,726	98,408	15,307
Interest and rent receivables	45,289	29,862
Straight-line rent receivables	35,860	33,993
Other loans	159,243	74,839
Other assets	64,140	43,792
Total Assets	2,178,886	1,621,874
Debt, net	1,025,160	689,849
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	65,961	51,125
Deferred revenue	20,609	23,307
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	17,342	28,778
Total liabilities	1,129,072	793,059
Total Equity	1,049,814	828,815
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 2,178,886	$ 1,621,874