Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Real estate assets
Land	$ 417,368	$ 315,787
Buildings and improvements	3,550,674	2,675,803
Construction in progress and other	53,648	49,165
Intangible lease assets	296,176	256,950
Net investment in direct financing leases	648,102	626,996
Mortgage loans	1,060,400	757,581
Gross investment in real estate assets	6,026,368	4,682,282
Accumulated depreciation	(292,786)	(232,675)
Accumulated amortization	(32,339)	(25,253)
Net investment in real estate assets	5,701,243	4,424,354
Cash and cash equivalents	83,240	195,541
Interest and rent receivables	57,698	46,939
Straight-line rent receivables	116,861	82,155
Other loans	155,721	664,822
Other assets	303,773	195,540
Total Assets	6,418,536	5,609,351
Liabilities
Debt, net	2,909,341	3,322,541
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	207,711	137,356
Deferred revenue	19,933	29,358
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	28,323	12,831
Total Liabilities	3,165,308	3,502,086
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity / Capital
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 500,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 320,514 shares at December 31, 2016 and 236,744 shares at December 31, 2015	321	237
Limited Partners:
Additional paid-in capital	3,775,336	2,593,827
Distributions in excess of net income	(434,114)	(418,650)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(92,903)	(72,884)
Treasury shares, at cost	(262)	(262)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,248,378	2,102,268
Non-controlling interests	4,850	4,997
Total Equity / Capital	3,253,228	2,107,265
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	6,418,536	5,609,351
Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Total Equity / Capital	321	237
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land	417,368	315,787
Buildings and improvements	3,550,674	2,675,803
Construction in progress and other	53,648	49,165
Intangible lease assets	296,176	256,950
Net investment in direct financing leases	648,102	626,996
Mortgage loans	1,060,400	757,581
Gross investment in real estate assets	6,026,368	4,682,282
Accumulated depreciation	(292,786)	(232,675)
Accumulated amortization	(32,339)	(25,253)
Net investment in real estate assets	5,701,243	4,424,354
Cash and cash equivalents	83,240	195,541
Interest and rent receivables	57,698	46,939
Straight-line rent receivables	116,861	82,155
Other loans	155,721	664,822
Other assets	303,773	195,540
Total Assets	6,418,536	5,609,351
Liabilities
Debt, net	2,909,341	3,322,541
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	132,868	84,628
Deferred revenue	19,933	29,358
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	28,323	12,831
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	74,453	52,338
Total Liabilities	3,164,918	3,501,696
Commitments and Contingencies
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(92,903)	(72,884)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,248,768	2,102,658
Non-controlling interests	4,850	4,997
Total Equity / Capital	3,253,618	2,107,655
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	6,418,536	5,609,351
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Equity / Capital
General partner - issued and outstanding - 3,204 units at December 31, 2016 and 2,363 units at December 31, 2015	33,436	21,773
Limited Partners:
Total Equity / Capital	33,436	21,773
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Limited Partners Capital	$ 3,308,235	$ 2,153,769