Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Rent billed									$ 123,080	$ 108,735	$ 80,270
Straight-line rent									7,982	5,379	1,165
Income from direct financing leases									21,728
Interest and fee income									48,607	21,370	26,589
Total revenues	57,407	53,315	49,408	41,267	34,417	34,282	34,776	32,009	201,397	135,484	108,024
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									33,545	30,896	20,897
Impairment charge											12,000
Property-related									1,495	738	4,381
Acquisition expenses									5,420	4,184	2,026
General and administrative									28,582	27,219	26,509
Total operating expenses									69,042	63,037	65,813
Operating income									132,355	72,447	42,211
Other income (expense)
Interest and other (expense) income									(1,662)	18	1,473
Earnings from equity and other interests									2,943	78	45
Debt refinancing costs										(14,214)	(6,716)
Interest expense									(58,243)	(43,810)	(33,984)
Net other expense									(56,962)	(57,928)	(39,182)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,894	23,221	19,358	8,920	6,296	(2,170)	2,559	7,834	75,393	14,519	3,029
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	4,709	8,287	2	1,686	6,444	2,638	123	2,990	14,684	12,195	19,983
Net income	28,603	31,508	19,360	10,606	12,740	468	2,682	10,824	90,077	26,714	23,012
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									(177)	(178)	(99)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders	28,556	31,464	19,316	10,564	12,692	424	2,640	10,780	89,900	26,536	22,913
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Expenses
General and administrative										17	75
Total operating expenses										17	75
Operating income										(17)	(75)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from continuing operations										(17)	(75)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									90,077	26,731	23,087
Net income									90,077	26,714	23,012
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									(177)	(178)	(99)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									89,900	26,536	22,913
Subsidiary Issuers
Revenues
Interest and fee income									18,341	6,124	6,964
Total revenues									18,341	6,124	6,964
Expenses
Property-related									495	217	(4)
Acquisition expenses									5,420	3,713	2,026
General and administrative									26,018	23,914	25,841
Total operating expenses									31,933	27,844	27,863
Operating income									(13,592)	(21,720)	(20,899)
Other income (expense)
Interest and other (expense) income									(69)	26	(14)
Debt refinancing costs										(14,109)	(6,716)
Interest expense									(58,729)	(43,063)	(33,623)
Net other expense									(58,798)	(57,146)	(40,353)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(72,390)	(78,866)	(61,252)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									162,467	105,597	84,339
Net income									90,077	26,731	23,087
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									(177)	(178)	(99)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									89,900	26,553	22,988
Subsidiary Guarantors
Revenues
Rent billed									115,770	102,541	74,281
Straight-line rent									6,500	3,617	131
Income from direct financing leases									19,870
Interest and fee income									29,610	17,556	17,225
Total revenues									171,750	123,714	91,637
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									31,845	29,238	19,282
Property-related									834	472	4,375
Total operating expenses									32,679	29,710	23,657
Operating income									139,071	94,004	67,980
Other income (expense)
Interest and other (expense) income										2	3
Earnings from equity and other interests									1,061	345
Debt refinancing costs										(105)
Interest expense									1,408	139	(358)
Net other expense									2,469	381	(355)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									141,540	94,385	67,625
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									102	(1,970)	896
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									4,481	4,578	4,273
Net income									146,123	96,993	72,794
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									146,123	96,993	72,794
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Rent billed									16,619	9,286	7,019
Straight-line rent									1,482	1,762	1,034
Income from direct financing leases									18,090
Interest and fee income									25,387	3,926	9,914
Total revenues									61,578	14,974	17,967
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									1,700	1,658	1,615
Impairment charge											12,000
Property-related									25,707	3,141	1,040
Acquisition expenses										471
General and administrative									2,564	3,288	593
Total operating expenses									29,971	8,558	15,248
Operating income									31,607	6,416	2,719
Other income (expense)
Interest and other (expense) income									(1,593)	(10)	1,484
Earnings from equity and other interests									1,882	(267)	45
Interest expense									(25,653)	(7,122)	(7,517)
Net other expense									(25,364)	(7,399)	(5,988)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									6,243	(983)	(3,269)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									14,582	14,165	19,087
Net income									20,825	13,182	15,818
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									20,825	13,182	15,818
Eliminations
Revenues
Rent billed									(9,309)	(3,092)	(1,030)
Income from direct financing leases									(16,232)
Interest and fee income									(24,731)	(6,236)	(7,514)
Total revenues									(50,272)	(9,328)	(8,544)
Expenses
Property-related									(25,541)	(3,092)	(1,030)
Total operating expenses									(25,541)	(3,092)	(1,030)
Operating income									(24,731)	(6,236)	(7,514)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense									24,731	6,236	7,514
Net other expense									24,731	6,236	7,514
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries net of income taxes									(257,025)	(136,906)	(111,699)
Net income									(257,025)	(136,906)	(111,699)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									177	178	99
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									(256,848)	(136,728)	(111,600)
Total Consolidated
Revenues
Rent billed									123,080	108,735	80,270
Straight-line rent									7,982	5,379	1,165
Income from direct financing leases									21,728
Interest and fee income									48,607	21,370	26,589
Total revenues									201,397	135,484	108,024
Expenses
Real estate depreciation and amortization									33,545	30,896	20,897
Impairment charge											12,000
Property-related									1,495	738	4,381
Acquisition expenses									5,420	4,184	2,026
General and administrative									28,582	27,219	26,509
Total operating expenses									69,042	63,037	65,813
Operating income									132,355	72,447	42,211
Other income (expense)
Interest and other (expense) income									(1,662)	18	1,473
Earnings from equity and other interests									2,943	78	45
Debt refinancing costs										(14,214)	(6,716)
Interest expense									(58,243)	(43,810)	(33,984)
Net other expense									(56,962)	(57,928)	(39,182)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									75,393	14,519	3,029
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									14,684	12,195	19,983
Net income									90,077	26,714	23,012
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									(177)	(178)	(99)
Net income attributable to MPT common stockholders									$ 89,900	$ 26,536	$ 22,913