HCR ManorCare Acquisition (Details) (USD $)			1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Mar. 31, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Sep. 30, 2011 HCR ManorCare	Sep. 30, 2011 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
Percentage of additional interest acquired through exercise of option							9.90%
Total purchase price consideration
Payment of aggregate cash consideration, net of cash acquired	172,380,000	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
Length of bridge loan facility term				365 days
Bridge loan commitments obtained from a syndicate of banks				3,300,000,000
Total revenues					270,400,000
Net income (loss)					301,500,000
Unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations
Revenues						1,351,574,000
Net income						590,333,000
Net income applicable to HCP, Inc.						$ 577,673,000
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)						$ 1.38
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)						$ 1.38