Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities
Net income	$ 432,272	$ 376,401	$ 1,018,477
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	275,953	156,575	141,492
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	13,099	8,881	7,363
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(226,906)	(138,806)	(100,594)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	47,154	32,188	16,505
Loss (gain) from sale of real estate	2,833	(41,560)	(719,392)
Impairment charges	19,006	21,031	48,007
Straight-line rent and other write-off	26,415	22,447	18,002
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	28,180	6,106
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction	(35,020)
Other adjustments	17,429	(2,271)	(3,768)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(2,438)	12,906	46,498
Other assets	18,264	(4,992)	(18,051)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(18,424)	39,630	(5,596)
Deferred revenue	19,819	5,581	145
Net cash provided by operating activities	617,636	494,117	449,088
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(4,249,180)	(4,565,594)	(1,430,995)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	94,177	111,766	1,513,666
Principal received on loans receivable	1,306,187	920	885,917
Investment in loans receivable	(62,651)	(54,088)	(212,002)
Construction in progress and other	(68,350)	(83,798)	(53,967)
Return of equity investment	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(36,180)	(293,163)	(138,441)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(2,946,773)	(4,883,957)	564,178
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	2,215,950	3,048,424	759,735
Payments of term debt	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	162,633	(65,736)	(811,718)
Dividends / Distribution paid	(567,969)	(411,697)	(363,906)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	21,706	(12,260)	(20,606)
Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs	411,101	2,533,210	94,239
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(42,347)	(50,057)	(3,614)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,401,074	5,041,884	(345,870)
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(928,063)	652,044	667,396
Effect of exchange rate changes	16,441	(6,478)	(17,218)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	1,467,991	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	556,369	1,467,991	822,425
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $3,030 in 2020, $3,936 in 2019, and $1,480 in 2018	309,920	211,163	221,779
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	147,666	138,161	95,419
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,462,286	820,868	171,472
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 5,705	$ 1,557	$ 775
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425	$ 172,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	549,884	1,462,286	820,868
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	6,485	$ 5,705	$ 1,557
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]		us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	556,369	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	432,272	376,401	1,018,477
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	275,953	156,575	141,492
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	13,099	8,881	7,363
Straight-line rent revenue and other	(226,906)	(138,806)	(100,594)
Share / (Unit)-based compensation expense	47,154	32,188	16,505
Loss (gain) from sale of real estate	2,833	(41,560)	(719,392)
Impairment charges	19,006	21,031	48,007
Straight-line rent and other write-off	26,415	22,447	18,002
Debt refinancing and unutilized financing costs	28,180	6,106
Pre-acquisition rent collected - Circle Transaction	(35,020)
Other adjustments	17,429	(2,271)	(3,768)
Changes in:
Interest and rent receivables	(2,438)	12,906	46,498
Other assets	18,264	(4,992)	(18,051)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(18,424)	39,630	(5,596)
Deferred revenue	19,819	5,581	145
Net cash provided by operating activities	617,636	494,117	449,088
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions and other related investments	(4,249,180)	(4,565,594)	(1,430,995)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	94,177	111,766	1,513,666
Principal received on loans receivable	1,306,187	920	885,917
Investment in loans receivable	(62,651)	(54,088)	(212,002)
Construction in progress and other	(68,350)	(83,798)	(53,967)
Return of equity investment	69,224
Capital additions and other investments, net	(36,180)	(293,163)	(138,441)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(2,946,773)	(4,883,957)	564,178
Financing activities
Proceeds from term debt, net of discount	2,215,950	3,048,424	759,735
Payments of term debt	(800,000)
Revolving credit facilities, net	162,633	(65,736)	(811,718)
Dividends / Distribution paid	(567,969)	(411,697)	(363,906)
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants	21,706	(12,260)	(20,606)
Proceeds from sale of units, net of offering costs	411,101	2,533,210	94,239
Payment of debt refinancing, deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(42,347)	(50,057)	(3,614)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,401,074	5,041,884	(345,870)
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the year	(928,063)	652,044	667,396
Effect of exchange rate changes	16,441	(6,478)	(17,218)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	1,467,991	822,425	172,247
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	556,369	1,467,991	822,425
Interest paid, including capitalized interest of $3,030 in 2020, $3,936 in 2019, and $1,480 in 2018	309,920	211,163	221,779
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared, unpaid	147,666	138,161	95,419
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are comprised of the following:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,462,286	820,868	171,472
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at beginning of period	$ 5,705	$ 1,557	$ 775
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425	$ 172,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	549,884	1,462,286	820,868
Restricted cash, included in Other assets at end of period	$ 6,485	$ 5,705	$ 1,557
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year	$ 556,369	$ 1,467,991	$ 822,425