Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 531,691	$ 537,971	$ 491,567	$ 436,154	$ 441,919	$ 456,022	$ 469,551	$ 479,197	$ 1,997,383	$ 1,846,689	$ 1,848,378
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity income from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	40,293	(40,926)	(10,338)	62,395	833,600	98,908	88,375	37,331	51,424	1,058,214	410,400
Net income (loss)	47,359	(42,308)	(9,980)	64,990	834,383	102,926	92,928	43,237	60,061	1,073,474	422,634
Net income (loss) applicable to Healthpeak Properties, Inc.	$ 43,520	$ (45,863)	$ (13,597)	$ 61,470	$ 831,548	$ 99,371	$ 89,942	$ 40,232	$ 45,530	$ 1,061,093	$ 414,169
Dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37
Basic (in dollars per share)	0.09	(0.09)	(0.03)	0.13	1.75	0.21	0.19	0.08	$ 0.09	$ 2.25	$ 0.88
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ (0.09)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.13	$ 1.73	$ 0.21	$ 0.19	$ 0.08	$ 0.09	$ 2.24	$ 0.88