Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Numerator - Basic
Income from continuing operations	$ 204,975	$ 233,915	$ 398,546	$ 307,558
Noncontrolling interests' share in continuing operations	(2,951)	(5,493)	(6,135)	(9,384)
Income from continuing operations applicable to HCP, Inc.	202,024	228,422	392,411	298,174
Preferred stock dividends		(5,283)	(17,006)	(10,566)
Participating securities' share in continuing operations	(557)	(483)	(1,674)	(1,347)
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	201,467	222,656	373,731	286,261
Discontinued operations		337	2,993	678
Net income applicable to common shares	201,467	222,993	376,724	286,939
Numerator - Dilutive
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	201,467	222,656	373,731	286,261
Add: distributions on dilutive convertible units		1,656
Dilutive income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	201,467	224,312	373,731	286,261
Discontinued operations		337	2,993	678
Dilutive net income available to common shares	$ 201,467	$ 224,649	$ 376,724	$ 286,939
Denominator
Basic weighted-average common shares	420,468,000	406,193,000	415,243,000	389,249,000
Dilutive potential common shares	1,203,000	5,517,000	1,423,000	1,851,000
Diluted weighted-average common shares	421,671,000	411,710,000	416,666,000	391,100,000
Basic earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.55	$ 0.90	$ 0.74
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.55	$ 0.91	$ 0.74
Diluted earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.55	$ 0.90	$ 0.73
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.55	$ 0.90	$ 0.73
Common stock options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	1,000,000	1,100,000
Restricted Stock and Performance Restricted Stock Units
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	21,000	11,000
Down REIT
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	5,800,000	2,300,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding			4,100,000	2,300,000