Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Numerator - Basic
Net income from continuing operations	$ 464,177	$ 51,337
Noncontrolling interests' share in earnings	(3,032)	(3,626)
Net income attributable to HCP, Inc.	461,145	47,711
Participating securities' share in earnings	(770)	(357)
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	460,375	47,354
Discontinued operations		68,408
Net income applicable to common shares	460,375	115,762
Numerator - Dilutive
Net income applicable to common shares	460,375	115,762
Add: distributions on dilutive convertible units	2,803
Dilutive net income available to common shares	$ 463,178	$ 115,762
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares	468,299	466,074
Diluted weighted average common shares	475,173	466,262
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.98	$ 0.10
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		0.15
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	0.98	0.25
Diluted earnings per common share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.97	0.10
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		0.15
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.25
Common Stock Options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	1,000
Equity awards
Denominator
Dilutive potential common shares	229	188
Down REIT
Denominator
Dilutive potential common shares	6,645
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation		6,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding		4,000