Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real estate assets
Land	$ 547,894	$ 639,626
Buildings and improvements	4,233,255	4,667,150
Construction in progress	84,172	47,695
Intangible lease assets	403,138	443,134
Real estate held for sale		146,615
Net investment in direct financing leases	684,053	698,727
Mortgage loans	1,213,322	1,778,316
Gross investment in real estate assets	7,165,834	8,421,263
Accumulated depreciation	(414,331)	(406,855)
Accumulated amortization	(50,653)	(48,857)
Net investment in real estate assets	6,700,850	7,965,551
Cash and cash equivalents	820,868	171,472
Interest and rent receivables	25,855	78,970
Straight-line rent receivables	220,848	185,592
Other loans	373,198	150,209
Other assets	702,024	468,494
Total Assets	8,843,643	9,020,288
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,037,389	4,898,667
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	204,325	211,188
Deferred revenue	13,467	18,178
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	27,524	57,050
Total Liabilities	4,282,705	5,185,083
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 — 370,637 shares at December 31, 2018 and 364,424 shares at December 31, 2017	371	364
Limited Partners:
Additional paid-in capital	4,442,948	4,333,027
Retained earnings (deficit)	162,768	(485,932)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,202)	(26,049)
Treasury shares, at cost	(777)	(777)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	4,547,108	3,820,633
Non-controlling interests	13,830	14,572
Total Equity / Capital	4,560,938	3,835,205
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	8,843,643	9,020,288
Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Total Equity / Capital	371	364
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land	547,894	639,626
Buildings and improvements	4,233,255	4,667,150
Construction in progress	84,172	47,695
Intangible lease assets	403,138	443,134
Real estate held for sale		146,615
Net investment in direct financing leases	684,053	698,727
Mortgage loans	1,213,322	1,778,316
Gross investment in real estate assets	7,165,834	8,421,263
Accumulated depreciation	(414,331)	(406,855)
Accumulated amortization	(50,653)	(48,857)
Net investment in real estate assets	6,700,850	7,965,551
Cash and cash equivalents	820,868	171,472
Interest and rent receivables	25,855	78,970
Straight-line rent receivables	220,848	185,592
Other loans	373,198	150,209
Other assets	702,024	468,494
Total Assets	8,843,643	9,020,288
Liabilities
Debt, net	4,037,389	4,898,667
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	108,574	121,465
Deferred revenue	13,467	18,178
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	27,524	57,050
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	95,361	89,333
Total Liabilities	4,282,315	5,184,693
Commitments and Contingencies
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,202)	(26,049)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	4,547,498	3,821,023
Non-controlling interests	13,830	14,572
Total Equity / Capital	4,561,328	3,835,595
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	8,843,643	9,020,288
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Common Units [Member]
Limited Partners:
Limited Partners Capital	4,559,616	3,808,583
General Partner [Member] | MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners:
Total Equity / Capital	46,084	38,489
General partner — issued and outstanding — 3,706 units at December 31, 2018 and 3,644 units at December 31, 2017	$ 46,084	$ 38,489