Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 105,309	$ 79,270	$ 60,637
Investing activities
Principal received on loans receivable	10,931	4,289	90,486
Investments in loans receivable	(1,293)	(861)	(11,637)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(617,128)	(265,621)	22,781
Financing activities
Additions to term debt	300,000	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(232)	(246,262)	(216,765)
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	89,600	(137,200)
Distributions paid	(103,952)	(89,601)	(77,087)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(11,436)	8,621	3,667
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(177)	(6,235)	(2,702)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	446,404	190,669	(317)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(65,415)	4,318	83,101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408	15,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	37,311	102,726	98,408
Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	57	(209)	(29)
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(129,421)	89,551	(211,181)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(129,421)	89,551	(211,181)
Financing activities
Distributions paid	(103,684)	(89,342)	(76,856)
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	129,364	(89,342)	211,210
Subsidiary Issuers
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(61,002)	(48,779)	(54,908)
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(501,839)	(92,052)	99,564
Construction in progress and other	(578)	(6,466)	(108)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(502,417)	(98,518)	99,456
Financing activities
Additions to term debt	300,000	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt		(237,666)	(216,520)
Revolving credit facilities, net	75,000	50,000	(96,000)
Distributions paid	(103,952)	(89,601)	(77,087)
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,424)	(21,028)	(9,498)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	497,672	151,705	37,461
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(65,747)	4,408	82,009
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	101,230	96,822	14,813
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	35,483	101,230	96,822
Subsidiary Guarantors
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	168,650	81,173	92,121
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(420,500)	(241,626)	(137,808)
Net proceeds from sales of real estate			2,669
Principal received on loans receivable	5,491	230
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	362,494	142,448	94,218
Investments in loans receivable		(230)	(5,000)
Construction in progress and other	(66,467)	(24,081)	(7,281)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(118,982)	(123,259)	(53,202)
Financing activities
Payments of term debt		(8,433)	(245)
Revolving credit facilities, net	(39,600)	39,600	(41,200)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(9,912)	10,941	3,459
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(49,512)	42,108	(37,986)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	156	22	933
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,409	1,387	454
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,565	1,409	1,387
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,396)	47,085	23,453
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(200,990)	(37,337)
Net proceeds from sales of real estate	71,202	41,130	95,000
Principal received on loans receivable	5,440	4,059	90,486
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	139,402	(50,605)	(193,811)
Investments in loans receivable	(1,293)	(631)	(6,637)
Construction in progress and other	(9,433)	(669)	(8,540)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	4,328	(44,053)	(23,502)
Financing activities
Payments of term debt	(232)	(163)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(1,524)	(2,320)	208
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities		(661)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,756)	(3,144)	208
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	176	(112)	159
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	87	199	40
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	263	87	199
Eliminations
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	129,364	(89,342)	211,210
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	129,364	(89,342)	211,210
Financing activities
Distributions paid	103,684	89,342	76,856
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	(233,048)		(288,066)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(129,364)	89,342	(211,210)
Total Consolidated
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	105,309	79,270	60,637
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(621,490)	(278,963)	(137,808)
Net proceeds from sales of real estate	71,202	41,130	97,669
Principal received on loans receivable	10,931	4,289	90,486
Investments in loans receivable	(1,293)	(861)	(11,637)
Construction in progress and other	(76,478)	(31,216)	(15,929)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(617,128)	(265,621)	22,781
Financing activities
Additions to term debt	300,000	450,000	148,500
Payments of term debt	(232)	(246,262)	(216,765)
Revolving credit facilities, net	35,400	89,600	(137,200)
Distributions paid	(103,952)	(89,601)	(77,087)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	(11,436)	8,621	3,667
Proceeds from sale of common shares/units, net of offering costs	233,048		288,066
Debt issuance costs paid and other financing activities	(6,424)	(21,689)	(9,498)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	446,404	190,669	(317)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for period	(65,415)	4,318	83,101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,726	98,408	15,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 37,311	$ 102,726	$ 98,408