Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity
Preferred shares outstanding	2,000,000				2,000,000				2,000,000	2,000,000
Conversion price per share									$ 19.25
Number of authorized shares of common stock before amendment											45,000,000
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000,000				60,000,000				60,000,000	60,000,000	60,000,000
Non-controlling Interests
Number of limited partners									0
Number of limited partnerships											1
Limited partnership, conversion basis											1
Cash paid, redemption of non-controlling interest											$ 2,764,000
Change from net income and transfers from non-controlling interest
Net income attributable to LTC Properties, Inc.									73,399,000	57,815,000	51,290,000
Transfers from the non-controlling interest: Increase in paid-in capital for limited partners conversion											396,000
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									73,399,000	57,815,000	50,440,000
Dividend Distributions
Declared	74,431,000				66,904,000				74,431,000	66,904,000
Paid									74,431,000	66,904,000	57,785,000
Dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.465	$ 0.465	$ 0.465
Dividends declared and paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.510	$ 0.465	$ 0.465	$ 0.465	$ 2.040	$ 1.905	$ 1.790
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated other comprehensive income	82,000				117,000				82,000	117,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Dividend Declared [Member]
Dividend Distributions
Dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)												$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.17
Equity Distribution Agreement [Member]
Equity
Shares common stock sold										126,742
Net proceeds										4,895,000
Maximum aggregate offering price of shares authorized for issuance under terminated agreement					85,686,000					85,686,000
Shelf Registration [Member]
Equity
Amount available under effective shelf registration statement	775,100,000								775,100,000
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity
Preferred shares outstanding	2,000,000				2,000,000				2,000,000	2,000,000
Dividend Rate (as a percent)									8.50%	8.50%
Number of shares of common stock to be issued upon conversion									2,000,000
Total shares reserved for issuance of common stock related to the conversion of preferred stock	2,000,000				2,000,000				2,000,000	2,000,000
Dividend Distributions
Declared	3,273,000				3,273,000				3,273,000	3,273,000
Paid									3,273,000	3,273,000
Common Stock [Member]
Equity
Number of shares repurchased									5,324	6,925				4,609
Dividend Distributions
Declared	71,158,000				63,631,000				71,158,000	63,631,000
Paid									71,158,000	63,631,000
Dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)					$ 0.17				$ 0.17						$ 0.155
Dividends declared and paid per common share (in dollars per share)					$ 0.17				$ 0.17						$ 0.155
Common Stock [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Equity
Number of shares repurchased									4,609
Common Stock [Member] | Underwritten Public Offering [Member]
Equity
Shares common stock sold										4,025,000
Sale price of common stock (in dollars per share)					$ 44.50					$ 44.50
Net proceeds										171,365,000
Common Stock [Member] | Equity Distribution Agreement [Member]
Equity
Reclassification of accumulated costs to additional paid in capital										662,000
Common Stock [Member] | Private Placement [Member]
Equity
Shares common stock sold									600,000
Sale price of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 41.50								$ 41.50
Net proceeds									24,644,000
Conversion of Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity
Total shares reserved for issuance of common stock related to the conversion of preferred stock	0				0				0	0
Non-controlling Interests
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
Number of limited partnership units redeemed in cash											89,294
Cash paid, redemption of non-controlling interest											2,764,000
Margin added to the common stock price per share on redemption date to determine amount to be paid to limited partner											$ 0.050
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