2.4.0.8132 - Disclosure - Real Estate and Lending Activities Real Estate and Lending Activities - Components of Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases (Detail)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_0_20130331_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865instant2013-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_0_20121231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1us-gaap_BusinessCombinationsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Business Combinations [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse12704010001270401USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse12779230001277923USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of minimum lease payments to be received by the lessor for capital leases.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952072&loc=d3e45377-112738 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph a(i)(a) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Minimum lease payments receivable3false 2mpw_EstimatedResidualValuesmpw_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse201283000201283falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse201283000201283falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEstimated Residual ValuesNo definition available.false2Estimated residual values4false 2mpw_LessUnearnedIncomempw_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-1156045000-1156045falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1164794000-1164794falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLess Unearned IncomeNo definition available.false2Less: Unearned income5false 2us-gaap_NetInvestmentInDirectFinancingAndSalesTypeLeasesus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse315639000315639USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse314412000314412USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net amount due as of the balance sheet date consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments due on direct financing and sales-type leases, (b) unguaranteed residual value, and (c) any unamortized initial direct costs on direct financing leases; less: (i) executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952072&loc=d3e45377-112738 false2Net investment in direct financing leasesfalseReal Estate and Lending Activities Real Estate and Lending Activities - Components of Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases (Detail) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.medicalpropertiestrust.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureRealEstateAndLendingActivitiesRealEstateAndLendingActivitiesComponentsOfNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeases25