Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jul. 28, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000766704
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End date	Jun. 30, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 23,029,716,957
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		351,884,894