Common Stock/Partners' Capital - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 18, 2019 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2019 shares	Jun. 30, 2019 shares	Mar. 31, 2019 shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) Employee shares	Dec. 31, 2018 shares
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs | $					$ 1,507,363
Common stock, shares issued		459,778			459,778	370,637
Employee [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of partners shared remaining ownership percentage | Employee					2
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units sold					87,900
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Medical Properties Trust, Inc. [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership interest in equity		99.90%			99.90%
At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs | $					$ 649,000
Public Offering [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs | $	$ 858,100
Common stock, shares issued	51,750
Additional shares purchased by underwriters	6,750
Common Par Value [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold		65,235	2,467	20,147
Common Par Value [Member] | At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold					36,100