Common Stock/Partners' Capital - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands					9 Months Ended
	Oct. 07, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 11, 2015 USD ($) shares	Jan. 14, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Partner Director Employee shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs					$ 1,024,088	$ 817,533
Common stock, shares issued | shares					309,792		236,744
Common Units [Member] | Private Placement [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Cerberus Capital Management [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold | shares	10,300
Sale of Stock, price per share | $ / shares	$ 14.50
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	$ 150,000
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs					$ 1,024,088	$ 817,533
Ownership interest in equity					99.87%
Number of other partners | Partner					3
Number of units sold | shares					72,500	63,250
Employee [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of partners shared remaining ownership percentage | Employee					2
Director [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of partners shared remaining ownership percentage | Director					1
Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs					$ 224,000
Common stock, shares issued | shares					15,000
Sales commission percentage		1.25%
Sales commissions, amount					$ 2,800
Market Equity Offering Program [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Value of stock		$ 227,000
Public Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs			$ 337,000	$ 480,000	$ 799,500
Common stock, shares issued | shares			28,750	34,500	57,500
Additional shares purchased by underwriters | shares			3,750	4,500	7,500