Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 24, 2019
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Entity File Number	1-11314
Entity Registrant Name	LTC PROPERTIES INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	71-0720518
Entity Address, Address Line One	2829 Townsgate Road, Suite 350
Entity Address, City or Town	Westlake Village
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	91361
City Area Code	805
Local Phone Number	981-8655
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $.01 par value
Trading Symbol	LTC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,751,704
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000887905
Amendment Flag	false