2.4.0.8143 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false falsefalseeol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_92_20120930_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-07-01T00:00:002012-09-30T00:00:00PropertyStandardhttp://www.medicalpropertiestrust.com/20130331Propertympw02false USDtruefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_30_20121227_0_498433x536468http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-11-28T00:00:002012-12-27T00:00:00falsefalseHuntingtonus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimpw_HuntingtonMemberus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDtruefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_31_20120821_0_498433x592912http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-07-22T00:00:002012-08-21T00:00:00falsefalseDenham Springsus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimpw_DenhamSpringsFacilityMemberus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDtruefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_92_20120930_0_498433x701116http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-07-01T00:00:002012-09-30T00:00:00falsefalseThorntonus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimpw_ThorntonMemberus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5false USDtruefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_92_20121231_0_498433x701117http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-10-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNew Bedfordus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimpw_NewBedfordMemberus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6false USDtruefalse$eol_PE631979--13S-3-0008_STD_31_20120615_0_498433x603578http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001287865duration2012-05-16T00:00:002012-06-15T00:00:00falsefalseHealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Fayettevilleus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimpw_HealthSouthRehabilitationHospitalOfFayettevilleMemberus-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]2false 4us-gaap_SalesOfRealEstateus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1250000012.5USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse52000005.2USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse4200000042.0USD$falsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6truefalsefalse1600000016.0USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRevenue from the sale of commercial, industrial, or residential property during the period. This element is more likely than not relevant to an entity for which real estate operations are a principal activity. If real estate operations are not a principal activity, the reporting entity would likely use a gain (loss) on sale of property, plant, or equipment type element.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 66 -Paragraph 44, 45 -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. false2Sale of real estate3false 4us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertiesus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse19000001.9falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3000000.3falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse84000008.4falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse72000007.2falsefalsefalse6truefalsefalse14000001.4falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 -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. false2Gain (Loss) on sale of real estate4false 4mpw_WriteOffRentReceivablesmpw_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7000000.7USD$falsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse16000001.6USD$falsetruefalse5truefalsefalse41000004.1USD$falsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryWrite off rent receivables.No definition available.false2Wrote-off rent receivables5false 4mpw_NumberOfPropertiesSoldmpw_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse22falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of Properties SoldNo definition available.false256Number of properties soldfalseDiscontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.medicalpropertiestrust.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsAdditionalInformation65