Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	$ 12,107,170	$ 12,078,927
Investment in financing leases	2,021,480	2,010,922
Mortgage loans	1,324,865	248,080
Gross investment in real estate assets	15,453,515	14,337,929
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(903,798)	(833,529)
Net investment in real estate assets	14,549,717	13,504,400
Cash and cash equivalents	746,753	549,884
Interest and rent receivables	44,558	46,208
Straight-line rent receivables	545,385	490,462
Equity investments	1,080,214	1,123,623
Other loans	1,522,666	858,368
Other assets	256,382	256,069
Total Assets	18,745,675	16,829,014
Liabilities
Debt, net	9,999,538	8,865,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	445,595	438,750
Deferred revenue	21,533	36,177
Obligations to tenants and other lease liabilities	158,799	144,772
Total Liabilities	10,625,465	9,485,157
Equity / Capital
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 750,000 shares; issued and outstanding — 583,109 shares at March 31, 2021 and 541,419 shares at December 31, 2020	583	541
Additional paid-in capital	8,252,966	7,461,503
Distributions in excess of net income	(71,071)	(71,411)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(66,720)	(51,324)
Treasury shares, at cost	(777)	(777)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	8,114,981	7,338,532
Non-controlling interests	5,229	5,325
Total Equity / Capital	8,120,210	7,343,857
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	18,745,675	16,829,014
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets
Land, buildings and improvements, intangible lease assets, and other	12,107,170	12,078,927
Investment in financing leases	2,021,480	2,010,922
Mortgage loans	1,324,865	248,080
Gross investment in real estate assets	15,453,515	14,337,929
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(903,798)	(833,529)
Net investment in real estate assets	14,549,717	13,504,400
Cash and cash equivalents	746,753	549,884
Interest and rent receivables	44,558	46,208
Straight-line rent receivables	545,385	490,462
Equity investments	1,080,214	1,123,623
Other loans	1,522,666	858,368
Other assets	256,382	256,069
Total Assets	18,745,675	16,829,014
Liabilities
Debt, net	9,999,538	8,865,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	281,762	290,757
Deferred revenue	21,533	36,177
Obligations to tenants and other lease liabilities	158,799	144,772
Payable due to Medical Properties Trust, Inc.	163,443	147,603
Total Liabilities	10,625,075	9,484,767
Equity / Capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(66,720)	(51,324)
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. capital)	8,115,371	7,338,922
Non-controlling interests	5,229	5,325
Total Equity / Capital	8,120,600	7,344,247
Total Liabilities and Equity / Capital	18,745,675	16,829,014
General Partner [Member] | MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Equity / Capital
General Partner — issued and outstanding — 5,830 units at March 31,2021 and 5,414 units at December 31, 2020	81,896	73,977
Total Equity / Capital	81,896	73,977
Common Units | MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Equity / Capital
Limited Partners — issued and outstanding — 577,279 units at March 31, 2021 and 536,005 units at December 31, 2020	$ 8,100,195	$ 7,316,269