Represents the number of properties sold during the period, not categorized as discontinued operations.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_DispositionOfPropertiesSoldNumber
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total consideration, cash and noncash, received by seller for the sale of real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_TotalConsiderationForDispositionOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate owned for investment purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_LifescienceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationsDisposedOfBySaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_MedicalOfficeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingOperatingPortfolioMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingTripleNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Discontinued Operations and Dispositions of Real Estate - 2017 Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) property	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) parcel property facility	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) parcel facility
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales of real estate			$ 1,314,325	$ 647,754	$ 73,149
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net			$ 356,641	$ 164,698	6,377
Life science
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| facility		4
Total consideration for disposition of real estate		$ 76,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		$ 45,000
Life science \| Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| facility				5
Total consideration for disposition of real estate				$ 386,000	$ 51,000
Life science \| Disposed of by Sale \| Land
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| parcel			1,000		2
Total consideration for disposition of real estate			$ 27,000
Life science \| Disposed of by Sale \| Building
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| property			1,000
Proceeds from sales of real estate			$ 5,000
Medical office \| Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| facility			4	3	1
Total consideration for disposition of real estate				$ 20,000	$ 400
Proceeds from sales of real estate			$ 15,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net			$ 41,000
SHOP \| Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| facility			5	3
Total consideration for disposition of real estate				$ 41,000
Proceeds from sales of real estate			$ 43,000
Senior housing triple-net \| Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed	64		4	7	9
Total consideration for disposition of real estate	$ 1,125,000			$ 88,000	$ 60,000
Proceeds from sales of real estate			$ 27,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net	$ 170,000
Senior housing triple-net \| Disposed of by Sale \| Building
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed \| facility				2