EPT - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income, net	Noncontrolling interest
Balance at period beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		64,999
Balance at period beginning at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 6,183,192	$ 6	$ 6,876,326	$ (861,193)	$ (14,729)	$ 182,782
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	246,564			233,290		13,274
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	4,879				4,713	166
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	257				248	9
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		44
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	(3,170)	$ 1	(3,171)
Sale of common stock, net	(84)		(84)
Equity based compensation costs	7,867		7,599			268
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)		(40)
Retirement of common stock, net	(9,172)		(9,172)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(6,595)		(6,752)			157
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1,900					1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(14,857)					(14,857)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		1
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(2,318)		(1,867)			(451)
Common stock dividends	(271,760)			(271,760)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		65,004
Balance at period end at Jun. 30, 2021	6,136,703	$ 7	6,862,879	(899,663)	(9,768)	183,248
Balance at period beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		64,999
Balance at period beginning at Mar. 31, 2021	6,210,931	$ 6	6,864,185	(828,625)	(10,390)	185,755
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	69,615			64,846		4,769
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	472				456	16
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	172				166	6
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		5
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	574	$ 1	573
Sale of common stock, net	(84)		(84)
Equity based compensation costs	2,785		2,571			214
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(2,512)		(2,574)			62
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(7,303)					(7,303)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		0
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(2,063)		(1,792)			(271)
Common stock dividends	(135,884)			(135,884)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		65,004
Balance at period end at Jun. 30, 2021	6,136,703	$ 7	6,862,879	(899,663)	(9,768)	183,248
Balance at period beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		65,248
Balance at period beginning at Dec. 31, 2021	6,176,508	$ 7	6,915,981	(916,833)	(5,552)	182,905
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	140,065			130,308		9,757
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	31,895				30,820	1,075
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	296				286	10
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		87
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	17,039	$ 0	17,039
Sale of common stock, net	(207)		(207)
Equity based compensation costs	5,125		4,952			173
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)		(219)
Retirement of common stock, net	(60,830)		(60,830)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	1,223		1,051			172
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	125					125
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(15,241)					(15,241)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		8
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(2,361)		(2,123)			(238)
Common stock dividends	(287,052)			(287,052)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		65,124
Balance at period end at Jun. 30, 2022	6,006,585	$ 7	6,875,863	(1,073,577)	25,554	178,738
Balance at period beginning (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		65,332
Balance at period beginning at Mar. 31, 2022	6,138,207	$ 7	6,930,072	(987,333)	14,237	181,224
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	61,690			57,054		4,636
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	11,812				11,416	396
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	(102)				(99)	(3)
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		3
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	172		172
Sale of common stock, net	(66)		(66)
Equity based compensation costs	2,662		2,572			90
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)		(219)
Retirement of common stock, net	(60,830)		(60,830)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	6,295		6,065			230
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(7,622)					(7,622)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		8
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(2,335)		(2,122)			(213)
Common stock dividends	(143,298)			(143,298)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		65,124
Balance at period end at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 6,006,585	$ 7	$ 6,875,863	$ (1,073,577)	$ 25,554	$ 178,738