Applicable Margin

No definition available.

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- Definition

Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Credit facility fee percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_CreditFacilityFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt refinancing charge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of debt redemption features under terms of the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

End date of debt instrument redemption period, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The excess of the (1) fair value of consideration transferred to the holders of a security in excess of (2) the carrying amount of the security reported on the registrant's balance sheet, which will be deducted from net earnings to derive net earnings available to common shareholders. This amount is generally an adjustment considered in the computation of earnings per share.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RedemptionPremium
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=mpw_AlternateBaseRateMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mpw_FivePointSevenFiveZeroPercentageSeniorUnsecuredNotesDueTwoThousandAndTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) € in Millions				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2017 EUR (€)	Feb. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 10, 2013 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 01, 2017 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility								$ 1,950,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Total Facility amount at a rate		0.25%
Aggregate committed amount of credit facility		$ 500,000,000
Minimum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Facility fee		0.125%
Maximum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Facility fee		0.30%
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured debt		$ 1,300,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Feb. 28, 2021
Term Loans [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured debt		$ 200,000,000				€ 200
Debt instrument, maturity date		Feb. 01, 2022
Alternate Base Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Applicable margin		0.00%
Applicable margin for revolving loans		0.00%
Alternate Base Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Applicable margin		0.95%
Applicable margin for revolving loans		0.65%
Eurodollar Loans [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Applicable margin		0.90%
Applicable margin for revolving loans		0.875%
Eurodollar Loans [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Applicable margin		1.95%
Applicable margin for revolving loans		1.65%
Euro [Member] \| Term Loans [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date		Jan. 31, 2020
5.750% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured debt \| €			€ 200
Debt instrument, maturity date			Oct. 01, 2020
Senior unsecured notes, interest rate			5.75%		5.75%		5.75%
Senior unsecured notes, redemption description					We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at a "make-whole" redemption price that will decrease over time. In the event of a change of control, each holder of the notes may require us to repurchase some or all of our notes at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
5.750% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2020 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount of senior unsecured debt \| €	€ 200
Senior unsecured notes, interest rate	5.75%
Senior notes, redemption date	Mar. 04, 2017
Senior unsecured notes, redemption description	We delivered an irrevocable notice of full redemption to the holders of the â,¬200 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.750% Senior Notes due 2020 and set a redemption date of March 4, 2017. To fund such redemption, including any premium and accrued interest, we plan to use the proceeds of the new euro term loan together with cash on hand.
5.750% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2020 [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt refinancing charge				$ 13,000,000
Redemption premium				$ 9,000,000