Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 03, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q/A
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-10989
Entity Registrant Name	Ventas, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	61-1055020
Entity Address, Address Line One	353 N. Clark Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 3300
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Country	US
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60654
City Area Code	877
Local Phone Number	483-6827
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Trading Symbol	VTR
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.25 par value
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		374,570,775
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000740260
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	EXPLANATORY NOTEThis Amendment No. 1 to the Form 10-Q (this “Amendment”) amends the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ventas, Inc. for the period ended September 30, 2020 (the “Form 10-Q”) filed earlier today on November 6, 2020 for the sole purpose of correcting a clerical error. The clerical error resulted in Item 6. Exhibits and the Signatures to be missing from the Form 10-Q as originally submitted.As required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, new certifications by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as exhibits to this Amendment. No other changes have been made to the Form 10-Q. For the convenience of the reader, this Amendment restates in its entirety, as amended, the original Form 10-Q. This Amendment does not reflect events that may have occurred subsequent to the original filing date, and does not modify or update in any way the substantive disclosures made in the Form 10-Q.