Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Common Stock	Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Treasury Stock	Treasury Stock Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Net Income	Cumulative Net Income Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Net Income Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Cumulative Dividends	Cumulative Dividends Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Balances at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 16,506,627	$ (5,212)	$ 16,501,415	$ 411,005	$ 411,005	$ 20,190,119	$ 20,190,119	$ (78,955)	$ (78,955)	$ 7,353,966	$ (5,212)	$ 7,348,754	$ (12,223,534)	$ (12,223,534)	$ (112,157)	$ (112,157)	$ 966,183	$ 966,183
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	1,077,754									978,844							98,910
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(30,854)														(36,347)		5,493
Total comprehensive income	1,046,900
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(143,575)					18,158											(161,733)
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	10,409			622		27,666		(17,879)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	594,266			7,064		587,202
Conversion of preferred stock	(7,656)							(7,656)
Dividends paid:
Common stock dividends	(1,120,187)												(1,120,187)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2020	16,881,572			418,691		20,823,145		(104,490)		8,327,598			(13,343,721)		(148,504)		908,853
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	372,933									336,138							36,795
Other comprehensive income (loss)	26,822														27,188		(366)
Total comprehensive income	399,755
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(8,447)					(23,743)											15,296
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	15,073			246		18,087		(3,260)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,345,820			29,668		2,316,152
Dividends paid:
Common stock dividends	(1,037,194)												(1,037,194)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	18,596,579			448,605		23,133,641		(107,750)		8,663,736			(14,380,915)		(121,316)		960,578
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	177,365									141,214							36,151
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(22,552)														1,609		(24,161)
Total comprehensive income	154,813
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(299,730)					(88,756)											(210,974)
Adjustment to members' interest from change in ownership in Welltower OP	0					46,649											(46,649)
Redemption of OP Units and DownREIT Units	1,263			5		1,464											(206)
Amounts related to stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	23,981			214		27,018		(3,251)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	3,665,829			43,095		3,622,734
Dividends paid:
Common stock dividends	(1,133,182)												(1,133,182)
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 21,009,553			$ 491,919		$ 26,742,750		$ (111,001)		$ 8,804,950			$ (15,514,097)		$ (119,707)		$ 714,739