HCR ManorCare Acquisition (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Mar. 31, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Dec. 31, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Dec. 31, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Dec. 31, 2010 HCR ManorCare	Dec. 31, 2012 HCR ManorCare	Apr. 07, 2011 HCR ManorCare item
Acquisition
Number of post-acute, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities acquired										334
Number of states where acquired post-acute, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities are located										30
Amount paid for additional equity interest acquired through exercise of option										$ 95,000,000
Equity method investment (as a percent)									9.40%	9.90%
Total purchase price consideration
Payment of aggregate cash consideration, net of cash acquired	186,478,000	113,830,000								3,801,624,000
HCP's loan investments in HCR ManorCare's debt settled at fair value		1,990,406,000								1,990,406,000
Assumed HCR ManorCare accrued liabilities at fair value										224,932,000
Total purchase consideration										6,016,962,000
Legal, accounting and other fees and costs										26,839,000
Gain on settlement of loan investments				23,000,000
Cost of transaction classified as general and administrative expense										15,500,000
Cost of transaction classified as interest expense										11,300,000
Assets acquired
Net investments in direct financing leases										6,002,074,000
Cash and cash equivalents										6,996,000
Intangible assets, net										14,888,000
Total assets acquired										6,023,958,000
Total liabilities assumed										224,932,000
Net assets acquired										5,799,026,000
Other acquisition disclosures
Length of bridge loan facility term					365 days
Bridge loan commitments obtained from a syndicate of banks					3,300,000,000
Charge incurred in interest expense related to write-off of unamortized loan fees associated with bridge loan facility					11,300,000
Net income (loss)						412,000,000
Net income (loss)	54,455,000	46,750,000	4,770,000			45,000,000
Unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations
Revenues							1,807,355,000	1,690,899,000
Net income							659,514,000	745,119,000
Net income applicable to HCP, Inc.							$ 643,911,000	$ 731,433,000
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)							$ 1.53	$ 1.86
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)							$ 1.52	$ 1.85