Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 property	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 partnership	Jun. 30, 2013 Dividend distributions	May 31, 2013 Dividend distributions	Apr. 30, 2013 Dividend distributions	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity Distribution Agreement	Mar. 31, 2013 Shelf Registration	Mar. 31, 2013 Total Cumulative Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Total Cumulative Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock Equity Distribution Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Conversion of noncontrolling interest item
Equity
Shares outstanding	2,000,000		2,000,000								2,000,000
Dividend Rate (as a percent)											8.50%
Number of shares of common stock and dividends to be issued upon conversion											2,000,000
Conversion price per share											$ 19.25
Total shares reserved for issuance of common stock related to the conversion of preferred stock											2,000,000
Number of shares repurchased													600
Maximum aggregate offering price of shares authorized for issuance							$ 85,686,000
Shares common stock sold							126,742
Net proceeds							4,895,000
Reclassification of accumulated costs to additional paid in capital															602,000
Amount available under equity distribution agreement							59,578,000
Maximum offering capacity under shelf registration statement								400,000,000
Amount available under effective shelf registration statement								167,614,000
Non-controlling Interests
Number of limited partners	0
Number of limited partnerships			1
Limited partnership, conversion basis			one-for-one basis
Number of limited partners exercising conversion rights																2
Number of partnership units converted by limited partners																112,588
Number of partnership units converted																23,294
Partnership unit conversion price (per unit)																$ 17.00
Redemption notification of limited partnership units																89,294
Cash paid, redemption of non-controlling interest		2,764,000														2,764,000
Margin added to the common stock price per share on redemption date to determine amount to be paid to limited partner																$ 0.05
Excess of redemption value over the book value																1,246,000
Excess of redemption value over the book value reclassified to stockholder's equity																1,246,000
Change from net income attributable to and transfers from non-controlling interest
Net income attributable to LTC Properties, Inc	12,976,000	12,921,000
Transfers from the non-controlling interest: Decrease in paid-in capital for limited partners conversion		(1,246,000)
Change from net income attributable to LTC Properties, Inc. and transfers from non-controlling interest	12,976,000	11,675,000
Dividend Distributions
Declared	15,035,000	14,044,000							818,000	818,000	818,000	818,000	14,217,000	13,226,000
Paid	15,035,000	14,044,000							818,000	818,000	818,000	818,000	14,217,000	13,226,000
Dividend declared per share per month				$ 0.155	$ 0.155	$ 0.155							$ 0.155	$ 0.145
Other Equity
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 143,000		$ 152,000