Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Numerator - Basic
Net income from continuing operations	$ 22,101	$ 197,467	$ 486,278	$ 248,804
Noncontrolling interests' share in earnings	(2,718)	(3,125)	(5,750)	(6,751)
Net income attributable to HCP, Inc.	19,383	194,342	480,528	242,053
Participating securities' share in earnings	(100)	(342)	(674)	(651)
Income from continuing operations applicable to common shares	19,283	194,000	479,854	241,402
Discontinued operations	0	107,375	0	175,783
Net income applicable to common shares	19,283	301,375	479,854	417,185
Numerator - Dilutive
Net income applicable to common shares	19,283	301,375	479,854	417,185
Add: distributions on dilutive convertible units	0	2,388	3,655	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	$ 19,283	$ 303,763	$ 483,509	$ 417,185
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares	468,646	467,084	468,474	466,579
Diluted weighted average common shares	468,839	471,425	473,366	466,777
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.42	$ 1.02	$ 0.52
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.23	0.00	0.37
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	0.04	0.65	1.02	0.89
Diluted earnings per common share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.04	0.42	1.02	0.52
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.22	0.00	0.37
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.64	$ 1.02	$ 0.89
Common Stock Options
Earnings per common share:
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000
Equity awards
Denominator
Dilutive potential common shares	193	208	195	198
Down REIT
Earnings per common share:
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	7,000	2,000	2,000	6,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding	4,000	2,000	1,000	4,000
Denominator
Dilutive potential common shares	0	4,133	4,697	0