Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2010
Jun. 30, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Dec. 31, 2007
Dec. 31, 2010
Parent [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Parent [Member]
Jan. 09, 2009
Parent [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
Parent [Member]
Mar. 31, 2008
Parent [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
Parent [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Subsidiaries Guarantor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Subsidiaries Guarantor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Eliminations [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Eliminations [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Common Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
Common Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
Common Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Common Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Common Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2008
Common Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2007
Common Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
LTIP Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
LTIP Units [Member]
MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Real estate assets                                                                          
Land, buildings and improvements and intangible lease assets $ 1,032,369   $ 976,271                         $ 297 $ 2     $ 903,630 $ 760,711 $ 128,442 $ 215,558                            
Mortgage loans 165,000   200,164                 165,000 200,164             165,000 160,000   40,164                            
Gross investment in real estate assets 1,197,369   1,176,435                 1,197,369 1,176,435     297 2     1,068,630 920,711 128,442 255,722                            
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (76,094)   (53,098)                                 (65,767) (45,918) (10,327) (7,180)                            
Net investment in real estate assets 1,121,275   1,123,337                 1,121,275 1,123,337     297 2     1,002,863 874,793 118,115 248,542                            
Cash and cash equivalents 98,408   15,307 11,748 94,215       5   26 98,408 15,307 11,743 94,189 96,822 14,814 10,481 93,415     1,586 493 1,262 774                        
Interest and rent receivables 26,176   19,845     26,176 19,845         26,176 19,845     157 185     20,727 15,512 5,292 4,148                            
Straight-line rent receivables 28,912   27,539                 28,912 27,539             21,180 20,859 7,732 6,680                            
Other loans 50,985   110,842                 50,985 110,842     178 178       1,000 50,807 109,664                            
Net intercompany receivable (payable)           21,944 15,740                 774,771 872,702     (767,395) (718,409) (29,320) (170,033)                            
Investment in subsidiaries           899,949 671,872                 390,232 313,877     42,970 44,908         (1,333,151) (1,030,657)                    
Other assets 23,058   13,028                 23,058 13,028     10,289 6,986     1,215 1,315 11,554 4,727                            
Total Assets 1,348,814   1,309,898     921,893 687,612         1,348,814 1,309,898     1,272,746 1,208,743     321,560 239,978 165,766 204,222     (1,333,151) (1,030,657)                    
Liabilities                                                                          
Debt, net 369,970 125,000 576,678     369,970 576,678         369,970 576,678     361,537 526,800         8,433 49,878                            
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 35,974   29,247     22,317 16,037         13,658 13,208     10,824 9,596     2,430 3,044 403 570                            
Deferred revenue 23,137   15,350                 23,137 15,350     436 475     17,826 9,623 4,875 5,252                            
Lease deposits and other obligations to tenants 20,157   17,048                 20,157 17,048             18,539 14,880 1,618 2,168                            
Total liabilities 449,238   638,323     22,317 16,037         448,865 638,026     372,797 536,871     38,795 27,547 15,329 57,868                            
Total Medical Properties Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity 899,462   671,445 626,343 519,327 899,462 671,445           671,872 626,578 519,562 899,835 671,742     282,765 212,431 150,437 146,354     (1,333,037) (1,030,527) 110 79 65 52 894,441 664,952 619,886 514,179    
Non-controlling interests 114   130     114 130         114 130     114 130                 (114) (130)                    
Total equity 899,576   671,575     899,576 671,575                 899,949 671,872     282,765 212,431 150,437 146,354     (1,333,151) (1,030,657)                    
Total Liabilities and Equity 1,348,814   1,309,898     921,893 687,612         1,348,814 1,309,898     1,272,746 1,208,743     321,560 239,978 165,766 204,222     (1,333,151) (1,030,657)                    
Equity                                                                          
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 10,000 shares; no shares outstanding                                                                            
Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 150,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 110,225 shares at December 31, 2010 and 78,725 shares at December 31, 2009 110   79                                                                    
General Partner - issued and outstanding - 1,102 units at December 31, 2010 and 787 units at December 31, 2009                       9,035 6,717                                                
Limited Partners Capital                                                               894,441 664,952       73
Additional paid-in capital 1,051,785   759,721                                                                    
Distributions in excess of net income (148,530)   (88,093)                                                                    
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,641)                     (3,641)                                                  
Treasury shares, at cost (262)   (262)                                                                    
Total MPT Operating Partnership capital                       899,835 671,742                                                
Total capital                       $ 899,949 $ 671,872                                                
Preferred stock, par value $ 0.001   $ 0.001                                                                    
Preferred stock, shares authorized 10,000,000   10,000,000                                                                    
Preferred stock, shares outstanding 0   0                                                                    
Common stock, par value $ 0.001   $ 0.001         $ 0.001                                                          
Common stock, shares authorized 150,000,000   150,000,000                                                                    
Common stock, shares issued 110,225,000   78,725,000             12,650,000                                                      
Common stock, shares outstanding 110,225,000   78,725,000                                                                    
General Partner, units issued                       1,102,000 787,000                                                
General Partner, units outstanding                       1,102,000 787,000                                                
Limited Partners, units issued                                                               109,123,000 77,938,000     94,000 63,000
Limited Partners, units outstanding                                                               109,123,000 77,938,000     94,000 63,000