Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Numerator
Income from continuing operations	$ 222,279	$ 213,897	$ 456,156	$ 445,450
Noncontrolling interests' share in continuing operations	(3,394)	(3,245)	(6,729)	(6,379)
Income from continuing operations applicable to HCP, Inc.	218,885	210,652	449,427	439,071
Participating securities' share in continuing operations	(489)	(378)	(1,552)	(856)
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	218,396	210,274	447,875	438,215
Discontinued operations		2,828	29,746	5,059
Noncontrolling interests' share in discontinued operations		(79)	(1,177)	(144)
Net income applicable to common shares	$ 218,396	$ 213,023	$ 476,444	$ 443,130
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares	458,247,000	454,618,000	457,773,000	454,137,000
Dilutive potential common shares	341,000	813,000	361,000	887,000
Diluted weighted average common shares	458,588,000	455,431,000	458,134,000	455,024,000
Basic earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.46	$ 0.98	$ 0.96
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.06	$ 0.02
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.47	$ 1.04	$ 0.98
Diluted earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.46	$ 0.98	$ 0.96
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.47	$ 1.04	$ 0.97
Common stock options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation			1,400,000	500,000
Restricted Stock and Performance Restricted Stock Units
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation			800,000	400,000
Down REIT
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation			6,100,000	6,000,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding			4,000,000	3,900,000