Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	$ 5,795,286	$ 4,317,866
Mortgage loans	1,777,555	1,060,400
Net investment in direct financing leases	695,829	648,102
Gross investment in real estate assets	8,268,670	6,026,368
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(418,880)	(325,125)
Net investment in real estate assets	7,849,790	5,701,243
Cash and cash equivalents	188,224	83,240
Interest and rent receivables	105,817	57,698
Straight-line rent receivables	166,142	116,861
Other loans	151,709	155,721
Other assets	465,358	303,773
Total Assets	8,927,040	6,418,536
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,832,264	2,909,341
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	180,631	207,711
Deferred revenue	18,906	19,933
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	54,035	28,323
Total Liabilities	5,085,836	3,165,308
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 - 364,084 shares at September 30, 2017 and 320,514 shares at December 31, 2016	364	321
Limited Partners:
Additional paid in capital	4,330,495	3,775,336
Distributions in excess of net income	(468,473)	(434,114)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35,165)	(92,903)
Treasury shares, at cost	(777)	(262)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,826,444	3,248,378
Non-controlling interests	14,760	4,850
Total Equity / Capital	3,841,204	3,253,228
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	8,927,040	6,418,536
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	5,795,286	4,317,866
Mortgage loans	1,777,555	1,060,400
Net investment in direct financing leases	695,829	648,102
Gross investment in real estate assets	8,268,670	6,026,368
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(418,880)	(325,125)
Net investment in real estate assets	7,849,790	5,701,243
Cash and cash equivalents	188,224	83,240
Interest and rent receivables	105,817	57,698
Straight-line rent receivables	166,142	116,861
Other loans	151,709	155,721
Other assets	465,358	303,773
Total Assets	8,927,040	6,418,536
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,832,264	2,909,341
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	92,793	132,868
Deferred revenue	18,906	19,933
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	54,035	28,323
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	87,448	74,453
Total Liabilities	5,085,446	3,164,918
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35,165)	(92,903)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,826,834	3,248,768
Non-controlling interests	14,760	4,850
Total Equity / Capital	3,841,594	3,253,618
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	8,927,040	6,418,536
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Equity / Capital
General Partner - issued and outstanding - 3,641 units at September 30, 2017 and 3,204 units at December 31, 2016	38,639	33,436
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Limited Partners Capital	$ 3,823,360	$ 3,308,235