Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	$ 5,867,286	$ 5,797,605
Real estate held for sale		146,615
Mortgage loans	1,927,393	1,778,316
Net investment in direct financing leases	686,024	698,727
Gross investment in real estate assets	8,480,703	8,421,263
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(493,782)	(455,712)
Net investment in real estate assets	7,986,921	7,965,551
Cash and cash equivalents	138,314	171,472
Interest and rent receivables	81,965	78,970
Straight-line rent receivables	202,317	185,592
Other loans	148,842	150,209
Other assets	473,481	468,494
Total Assets	9,031,840	9,020,288
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,898,364	4,898,667
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	206,891	211,188
Deferred revenue	15,549	18,178
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	57,847	57,050
Total liabilities	5,178,651	5,185,083
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 — 364,695 shares at March 31, 2018 and 364,424 shares at December 31, 2017	365	364
Limited Partners:
Additional paid-in capital	4,333,972	4,333,027
Distributions in excess of net income	(484,804)	(485,932)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,961)	(26,049)
Treasury shares, at cost	(777)	(777)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,838,795	3,820,633
Non-controlling interests	14,394	14,572
Total Equity / Capital	3,853,189	3,835,205
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	9,031,840	9,020,288
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	5,867,286	5,797,605
Real estate held for sale		146,615
Mortgage loans	1,927,393	1,778,316
Net investment in direct financing leases	686,024	698,727
Gross investment in real estate assets	8,480,703	8,421,263
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(493,782)	(455,712)
Net investment in real estate assets	7,986,921	7,965,551
Cash and cash equivalents	138,314	171,472
Interest and rent receivables	81,965	78,970
Straight-line rent receivables	202,317	185,592
Other loans	148,842	150,209
Other assets	473,481	468,494
Total Assets	9,031,840	9,020,288
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,898,364	4,898,667
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	115,149	121,465
Deferred revenue	15,549	18,178
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	57,847	57,050
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	91,352	89,333
Total liabilities	5,178,261	5,184,693
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,961)	(26,049)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	3,839,185	3,821,023
Non-controlling interests	14,394	14,572
Total Equity / Capital	3,853,579	3,835,595
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	9,031,840	9,020,288
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Equity / Capital
General Partner — issued and outstanding — 3,647 units at March 31, 2018 and 3,644 units at December 31, 2017	38,518	38,489
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Limited Partners Capital	$ 3,810,628	$ 3,808,583