Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	7 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 partnership	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsequent Event Dividend distributions	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event Dividend distributions	Oct. 31, 2013 Subsequent Event Dividend distributions	Sep. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event Dividend distributions	Sep. 30, 2013 Equity Distribution Agreement	Jul. 19, 2013 Shelf Registration	Sep. 30, 2013 Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Jul. 31, 2012 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2013 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2013 Common Stock Equity Distribution Agreement	Sep. 30, 2013 Common Stock Underwritten public offering	Dec. 31, 2012 Conversion of noncontrolling interest item
Equity
Shares outstanding	2,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000							2,000,000
Dividend Rate (as a percent)												8.50%
Number of shares of common stock and dividends to be issued upon conversion												2,000,000
Conversion price per share												$ 19.25
Total shares reserved for issuance of common stock related to the conversion of preferred stock												2,000,000
Number of shares repurchased																600
Maximum aggregate offering price of shares authorized for issuance under terminated agreement										$ 85,686,000
Shares common stock sold										126,742									4,025,000
Sale price of common stock (in dollars per share)																			$ 44.50
Fees and costs																			7,748,000
Net proceeds										4,895,000									171,365,000
Reclassification of accumulated costs to additional paid in capital																		662,000
Maximum offering capacity under shelf registration statement											800,000,000
Non-controlling Interests
Number of limited partners			0
Number of limited partnerships					1
Limited partnership, conversion basis					one-for-one basis
Number of limited partners exercising conversion rights																				2
Number of partnership units converted by limited partners																				112,588
Number of partnership units converted																				23,294
Partnership unit conversion price (per unit)																				$ 17.00
Redemption notification of limited partnership units																				89,294
Cash paid, redemption of non-controlling interest				2,764,000																2,764,000
Margin added to the common stock price per share on redemption date to determine amount to be paid to limited partner																				$ 0.05
Excess of redemption value over the book value																				1,246,000
Excess of redemption value over the book value reclassified to stockholder's equity																				1,246,000
Change from net income attributable to and transfers from non-controlling interest
Net income attributable to LTC Properties, Inc	17,286,000	12,495,000	43,165,000	38,519,000
Transfers from the non-controlling interest: Increase in paid-in capital for limited partners conversion				56,000
Transfers from the non-controlling interest: Decrease in paid-in capital for limited partners conversion				(1,246,000)
Change from net income attributable to LTC Properties, Inc. and transfers from non-controlling interest			43,165,000	37,329,000
Dividend Distributions
Declared	48,363,000	42,777,000	48,363,000	42,777,000								2,454,000	2,454,000	40,323,000		45,909,000	40,323,000
Paid			48,363,000	42,777,000								2,454,000	2,454,000			45,909,000	40,323,000
Cash dividend per common share (in dollars per share)						$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.155					$ 0.155	$ 0.145	$ 0.155
Other Equity
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 125,000		$ 125,000		$ 152,000