Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Operating Segments | segment									4
Total assets	$ 6,191,493				$ 4,865,022				$ 6,191,493	$ 4,865,022
Rental revenue									468,648	399,589	$ 330,886
Tenant reimbursements									15,555	15,595	16,320
Other income (loss)									3,095	9,039	3,629
Mortgage and other financing income									88,693	69,019	70,182
Total revenue	147,700	$ 151,397	$ 147,782	$ 129,112	130,831	$ 125,610	$ 118,033	$ 118,768	575,991	493,242	421,017
Property operating expense									31,653	22,602	23,433
Other expense									242	5	648
Investment Income, Investment Expense									31,895	22,607	24,081
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									544,096	470,635	396,936
General and Administrative Expense									(43,383)	(37,543)	(31,021)
Severance Costs									0	0	(18,578)
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff									(1,549)	(905)	(270)
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt									977	0	0
Interest Expense									(133,124)	(97,144)	(79,915)
Transaction costs									(523)	(7,869)	(7,518)
Depreciation and amortization									(132,946)	(107,573)	(89,617)
Equity in income from joint ventures									72	619	969
Gain on sale of real estate									41,942	5,315	23,829
Income tax expense									(2,399)	(553)	(482)
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax									0	0	199
Net income attributable to EPR Properties	65,563	$ 62,954	$ 80,535	$ 53,916	58,141	$ 57,526	$ 55,135	$ 54,180	262,968	224,982	194,532
Dividends, Preferred Stock									(24,293)	(23,806)	(23,806)
Preferred Share Redemption Costs									4,457	0	0
Net income available to common shareholders of EPR Properties									234,218	201,176	170,726
Entertainment Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,380,129				2,168,669				2,380,129	2,168,669
Rental revenue									267,729	250,659	238,896
Tenant reimbursements									15,518	15,588	16,343
Other income (loss)									614	249	512
Mortgage and other financing income									4,407	6,187	7,127
Total revenue									288,268	272,683	262,878
Property operating expense									23,175	21,303	23,120
Other expense									0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									23,175	21,303	23,120
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									265,093	251,380	239,758
Education Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,429,992				1,308,288				1,429,992	1,308,288
Rental revenue									78,994	77,768	51,439
Tenant reimbursements									37	7	0
Other income (loss)									1	1,648	0
Mortgage and other financing income									35,546	32,539	30,622
Total revenue									114,578	111,962	82,061
Property operating expense									6,314	0	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									6,314	0	0
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									108,264	111,962	82,061
Recreation Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,102,041				1,120,498				2,102,041	1,120,498
Rental revenue									112,763	62,527	40,551
Tenant reimbursements									0	0	0
Other income (loss)									0	4,482	0
Mortgage and other financing income									48,740	30,190	32,080
Total revenue									161,503	97,199	72,631
Property operating expense									117	8	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									117	8	0
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									161,386	97,191	72,631
Other Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	199,052				202,394				199,052	202,394
Rental revenue									9,162	8,635	0
Tenant reimbursements									0	0	(23)
Other income (loss)									0	0	119
Mortgage and other financing income									0	103	353
Total revenue									9,162	8,738	449
Property operating expense									1,407	662	313
Other expense									0	5	648
Investment Income, Investment Expense									1,407	667	961
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									7,755	8,071	(512)
Corporate Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 80,279				$ 65,173				80,279	65,173
Rental revenue									0	0	0
Tenant reimbursements									0	0	0
Other income (loss)									2,480	2,660	2,998
Mortgage and other financing income									0	0	0
Total revenue									2,480	2,660	2,998
Property operating expense									640	629	0
Other expense									242	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									882	629	0
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									$ 1,598	$ 2,031	$ 2,998