Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Results of Operations for Properties Sold or to be Sole (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Total revenues			$ 539,950	$ 530,555	$ 538,332	$ 520,457	$ 520,325	$ 508,900	$ 459,806	$ 451,458	$ 2,129,294	$ 1,940,489	$ 1,636,833
Total discontinued operations			(18,246)	108,215	107,378	68,408	(679,765)	130,210	158,479	(308,028)	265,755	(699,086)	665,276
Income before income taxes and equity income from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			67,530	47,453	196,352	55,949	70,408	(11,263)	6,320	70,806	367,284	136,271	274,414
Net (loss) income			61,300	154,039	304,842	119,745	(594,617)	117,954	167,748	(237,503)	639,926	(546,418)	936,591
Net income (loss) attributable to HCP, Inc.			$ 58,661	$ 151,250	$ 301,717	$ 116,119	$ (598,868)	$ 115,362	$ 164,885	$ (240,614)	$ 627,747	$ (559,235)	$ 922,233
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.120	$ 0.320	$ 0.650	$ 0.250	$ (1.29)	$ 0.25	$ 0.36	$ (0.52)	$ 1.34	$ (1.21)	$ 2.01
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share			$ 0.120	$ 0.320	$ 0.640	$ 0.250	$ (1.29)	$ 0.25	$ 0.36	$ (0.52)	$ 1.34	$ (1.21)	$ 2.00
Loss on debt extinguishment											$ 46,020
Transaction costs											(86,765)
Gain on sales of real estate					$ 120,000
Income tax expense						$ 53,000					$ 48,181	$ 796	$ 756
Impairments, net												$ (108,349)
Four Seasons
Impairments, net								$ 70,000	$ 42,000
HCRMC
Income tax expense						$ 49,000
Impairment charges related to investments in DFLs		$ 478,000
Impairments of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 27,000						$ 19,000	$ 27,000					$ 36,000
HCRMC | DFL Portfolio
Impairment charges related to investments in DFLs							$ 817,000			$ 478,000
Spinoff
Transaction costs			$ 58,000