Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 12, 2019	Jun. 29, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001332349
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1.7
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		186,599,616
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false