-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 S3akyHmRoo9yaRlAybxk+vWqDEUggFcret03vtlUNXkiVjD91A8h7UwAoX8aWANB
 4Wm1itiD/Be27kac4+ed2g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001287865-10-000007.txt : 20100108
<SEC-HEADER>0001287865-10-000007.hdr.sgml : 20100108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100108181614
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001287865-10-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Holmes Robert E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001331605

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32559
		FILM NUMBER:		10518576

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 501
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDICAL PROPERTIES TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287865
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 UBRAN CENTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 501
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		205-969-3755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 501
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001287865</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDICAL PROPERTIES TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mpw</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001331605</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Holmes Robert E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 URBAN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 501</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35242</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7843</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>62340</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares vest ratably at the beginning of each of the 12 calendar quarters ending March 31, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael G. Stewart, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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