Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Treasury Stock	Cumulative Net Income	Cumulative Dividends	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests
Balances at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 18,596,579	$ 448,605	$ 23,133,641	$ (107,750)	$ 8,663,736	$ (14,380,915)	$ (121,316)	$ 960,578
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	177,365				141,214			36,151
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(22,552)						1,609	(24,161)
Total comprehensive income	154,813
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(299,730)		(88,756)					(210,974)
Adjustment to members' interest from change in ownership in Welltower OP	0		46,649					(46,649)
Redemption of OP Units and DownREIT Units	1,263	5	1,464					(206)
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	23,981	214	27,018	(3,251)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	3,665,829	43,095	3,622,734
Common stock dividends paid	(1,133,182)					(1,133,182)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2022	21,009,553	491,919	26,742,750	(111,001)	8,804,950	(15,514,097)	(119,707)	714,739
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	357,913				340,094			17,819
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(21,928)						(30,767)	8,839
Total comprehensive income	335,985
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(67,124)		25,571				(12,686)	(80,009)
Adjustment to members' interest from change in ownership in Welltower OP	0		(18,399)					18,399
Redemption of OP Units and DownREIT Units	17,356	336	20,061					(3,041)
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	37,659	210	38,026	(577)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	6,007,369	73,429	5,933,940
Common stock dividends paid	(1,259,676)					(1,259,676)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2023	26,081,122	565,894	32,741,949	(111,578)	9,145,044	(16,773,773)	(163,160)	676,746
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	970,624				951,680			18,944
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(156,216)						(149,652)	(6,564)
Total comprehensive income	814,408
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(562,483)		(165,121)				(46,969)	(350,393)
Adjustment to members' interest from change in ownership in Welltower OP	0		(22,370)					22,370
Redemption of OP Units and DownREIT Units	43,011	495	43,461					(945)
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	74,690	174	77,114	(2,598)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	7,411,909	70,439	7,341,470
Common stock dividends paid	(1,546,291)					(1,546,291)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2024	$ 32,316,366	$ 637,002	$ 40,016,503	$ (114,176)	$ 10,096,724	$ (18,320,064)	$ (359,781)	$ 360,158