Development projects original commitment amount.

No definition available.

Name:	mpw_DevelopmentProjectsOriginalCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Estimated development costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Lease agreement annual incremental interest percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Lease agreement increase in consumer price index floor rate minimum.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Lease extension period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_LeaseExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Lease period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_LeasePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of extension options in current lease contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_NumberOfExtensionOptionsInCurrentLeaseContract
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of facilities constructed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_NumberOfFacilitiesConstructed
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of facilities leased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_NumberOfFacilitiesLeased
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of lease extension options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mpw_NumberOfLeaseExtensionOptions
Namespace Prefix:	mpw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of increase in lease rent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The capitalized costs incurred during the period (excluded from amortization) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire an unproved property, including costs of lease bonuses and options to purchase or lease properties, the portion of costs applicable to minerals when land including mineral rights is purchased in fee, brokers' fees, recording fees, legal costs, and other costs incurred in acquiring properties.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The capitalized costs incurred during the period (excluded from amortization) to obtain access to proved reserves and to provide facilities for extracting, treating, gathering and storing the oil and gas.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10(c)(7)(ii))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82851474&loc=d3e511914-122862

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10(a)(7))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82851474&loc=d3e511914-122862

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10(c)(3)(ii)(A))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82851474&loc=d3e511914-122862

+ Details

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

- Definition

Description of lessee's operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

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

- Definition

Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_GB
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=mpw_AcuteCareHospitalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mpw_IdahoFallsIdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=mpw_AdeptusHealthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=mpw_ErnestHealthIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=mpw_InpatientRehabilitationHospitalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_EntityByLocationAxis=mpw_FlagstaffArizonaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mpw_RehabilitationHospitalOfNorthwestOhioMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_EntityByLocationAxis=mpw_ToledoOhMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=mpw_DevelopmentActivitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=mpw_AcuteCareFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=mpw_ImedGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_ES
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=mpw_AcuteCareFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis=mpw_TwoThousandFifteenMasterLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=mpw_UabMedicalWestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Real Estate and Loans Receivable - Development Activities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands, € in Millions, £ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Facility RenewalOptions	Dec. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated total development cost		$ 185,127
Birmingham, England
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price of acquisition \| £	£ 2.7
Term of lease, years	15 years
Total development costs anticipated \| £	£ 30.0
Acute Care Hospital [Member] \| Idaho Falls, ID [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated total development cost						$ 113,500
Adeptus Health [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Term of lease, years					15 years
Number of lease extension options \| RenewalOptions					3
Term of lease extension, years					5 years
Lease rent increase percentage					2.00%
Ernest [Member] \| Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital [Member] \| Flagstaff, Arizona [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated total development cost							$ 28,100
Ernest [Member] \| Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital [Member] \| Rehabilitation Hospital of Northwestern Ohio [Member] \| Toledo, OH [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated total development cost				$ 18,400
Development Activities [Member] \| Acute Care Facilities [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of facilities constructed \| Facility				19
Acquisition costs				$ 136,600
Development Activities [Member] \| Adeptus Health [Member] \| Acute Care Facilities [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of facilities constructed \| Facility		4
Acquisition costs		$ 68,000
Development Activities [Member] \| IMED [Member] \| Acute Care Facilities [Member] \| Spain [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition costs \| €			€ 21
Ownership interests acquired		50.00%
Lessor direct financing lease description		Quarterly fixed rent payments that started on October 1, 2017 with annual increases of 1% beginning April 1, 2020.	Quarterly fixed rent payments that started on October 1, 2017 with annual increases of 1% beginning April 1, 2020.
Lease rent increase percentage		1.00%	1.00%
Development Activities [Member] \| Acute Care Facilities [Member] \| 2015 Master Lease [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of facilities leased \| Facility					17
Estimated total development cost					$ 102,600
Development Activities [Member] \| UAB Medical West [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated total development cost					$ 8,600
Term of lease, years					15 years
Term of lease extension, years					5 years
Number of lease extension options in current lease contract \| RenewalOptions					4
Lease rent increase percentage					2.00%