Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Treasury shares [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Member]	Distributions in excess of net income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity	$ 2,073,868	$ 632	$ 139	$ 2,508,445	$ (97,328)	$ 5,622	$ (343,642)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		63,195,182	13,850,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of nonvested shares, net		300,752
Issuance of nonvested shares, net	(4,475)	$ (3)		(4,472)	0
Purchase of common shares for vesting	4,208				4,208
Amortization of nonvested shares	(2,528)			(2,528)
Share option expense	237			237
Foreign currency translation adjustment	11,221					11,221
Change in unrealized gain/loss on derivatives	(13,135)					(13,135)
Net income attributable to EPR Properties	54,180						54,180
Issuances of common shares (in shares)		2,253,900
Issuances of common shares	$ 125,253	$ 23		125,230
Stock option exercises, net (in shares)	88,294	88,294
Stock option exercises, net	$ (635)	$ 0		(2,693)	(3,328)
Dividends to common and preferred shareholders	(66,746)						(66,746)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2016		65,838,128	13,850,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity	$ 2,187,038	$ 658	$ 139	$ 2,643,605	$ (104,864)	$ 3,708	$ (356,208)