Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Numerator
Income from continuing operations	$ 215,166	$ 204,900	$ 448,388	$ 398,358
Noncontrolling interests' share in continuing operations	(3,324)	(2,951)	(6,523)	(6,135)
Income from continuing operations applicable to HCP, Inc.	211,842	201,949	441,865	392,223
Preferred stock dividends				(17,006)
Participating securities' share in continuing operations	(378)	(557)	(856)	(1,674)
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	211,464	201,392	441,009	373,543
Discontinued operations	1,559	75	2,121	3,181
Net income applicable to common shares	$ 213,023	$ 201,467	$ 443,130	$ 376,724
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares	454,618,000	420,468,000	454,137,000	415,243,000
Dilutive potential common shares	813,000	1,203,000	887,000	1,423,000
Diluted weighted average common shares	455,431,000	421,671,000	455,024,000	416,666,000
Basic earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.48	$ 0.97	$ 0.90
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.48	$ 0.98	$ 0.91
Diluted earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.48	$ 0.97	$ 0.90
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.48	$ 0.97	$ 0.90
Common stock options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	500,000	1,000,000
Restricted Stock and Performance Restricted Stock Units
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	2,900	21,000
Down REIT
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	6,000,000	5,800,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding	3,900,000	4,100,000