Common Stock/Partners' Capital - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 11, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued		583,109		541,419
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs		$ 779,241	$ 61,682
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of units sold		39,900	2,600
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Medical Properties Trust, LLC. [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership of general partner		100.00%
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | Operating Partnership [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership limited partner		100.00%
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member] | MPT TRS, Inc [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership of general partner		100.00%
At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs		$ 105,500
Public Offering [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued	36,800
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs	$ 711,000
At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common shares / units, net of offering costs		$ 67,600	$ 62,000
Common Units [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold		39,949	2,601
Common Units [Member] | At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold		4,900
Common Units [Member] | At-the-Market Equity Offering Program [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of share sold		3,100	2,600