Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Operating Segments | segment									4
Total assets	$ 6,131,390				$ 6,191,493				$ 6,131,390	$ 6,191,493
Rental revenue									556,363	484,203	$ 415,184
Other income (loss)									2,076	3,095	9,039
Mortgage and other financing income									142,292	88,693	69,019
Total revenue	166,487	$ 176,409	$ 202,867	$ 154,968	147,700	$ 151,397	$ 147,782	$ 129,112	700,731	575,991	493,242
Property operating expense									30,756	31,653	22,602
Other expense									443	242	5
Investment Income, Investment Expense									31,199	31,895	22,607
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									669,532	544,096	470,635
General and Administrative Expense									(48,889)	(43,383)	(37,543)
Severance Costs									(5,938)	0	0
Litigation settlement expense									(2,090)	0	0
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff									(31,958)	(1,549)	(905)
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt									0	977	0
Interest Expense									(135,507)	(133,124)	(97,144)
Transaction costs									(3,698)	(523)	(7,869)
Impairment charges									27,283	10,195	0
Depreciation and amortization									(153,430)	(132,946)	(107,573)
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures									(22)	72	619
Gain on sale of real estate									3,037	41,942	5,315
gain on sale of investment in direct financing lease									5,514	0	0
Income tax expense									(2,285)	(2,399)	(553)
Net income	54,031	$ 91,833	$ 91,581	$ 29,538	65,563	$ 62,954	$ 80,535	$ 53,916	266,983	262,968	224,982
Dividends, Preferred Stock									(24,142)	(24,293)	(23,806)
Preferred Share Redemption Costs									0	4,457	0
Net income available to common shareholders of EPR Properties									242,841	234,218	201,176
Entertainment Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,344,855				2,380,129				2,344,855	2,380,129
Rental revenue									301,782	283,247	266,247
Other income (loss)									270	614	249
Mortgage and other financing income									7,971	4,407	6,187
Total revenue									310,023	288,268	272,683
Property operating expense									24,141	23,175	21,303
Other expense									0	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									24,141	23,175	21,303
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									285,882	265,093	251,380
Recreation Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,187,808				2,102,041				2,187,808	2,102,041
Rental revenue									142,822	112,763	62,527
Other income (loss)									62	0	4,482
Mortgage and other financing income									109,200	48,740	30,190
Total revenue									252,084	161,503	97,199
Property operating expense									126	117	8
Other expense									0	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									126	117	8
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									251,958	161,386	97,191
Education Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,366,278				1,429,992				1,366,278	1,429,992
Rental revenue									102,642	79,031	77,775
Other income (loss)									0	1	1,648
Mortgage and other financing income									25,121	35,546	32,539
Total revenue									127,763	114,578	111,962
Property operating expense									3,933	6,314	0
Other expense									0	0	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									3,933	6,314	0
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									123,830	108,264	111,962
Other Reportable Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	207,724				199,052				207,724	199,052
Rental revenue									9,117	9,162	8,635
Other income (loss)									0	0	0
Mortgage and other financing income									0	0	103
Total revenue									9,117	9,162	8,738
Property operating expense									1,901	1,407	662
Other expense									0	0	5
Investment Income, Investment Expense									1,901	1,407	667
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									7,216	7,755	8,071
Corporate Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 24,725				$ 80,279				24,725	80,279
Rental revenue									0	0	0
Other income (loss)									1,744	2,480	2,660
Mortgage and other financing income									0	0	0
Total revenue									1,744	2,480	2,660
Property operating expense									655	640	629
Other expense									443	242	0
Investment Income, Investment Expense									1,098	882	629
Net Operating Income Before Unallocated Items									$ 646	$ 1,598	$ 2,031