Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 14, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL HEALTH INVESTORS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000877860
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		41,532,154
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float:			$ 3,117,380
Entity Voluntary Filers:	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer:	Yes