EPT - Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), 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	515,691			488,554		27,137
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable debt securities	0
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	9,170				8,859	311
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	329				318	11
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		279
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	53,052	$ 1	53,051
Sale of common stock, net	(455)		(455)
Equity based compensation costs	11,683		11,286			397
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	(6,890)		(7,489)			599
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1,900					1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(29,341)					(29,341)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		10
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(8,457)		(7,566)			(891)
Common stock dividends	(544,194)			(544,194)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		65,248
Balance at period end 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	432,985			408,315		24,670
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable debt securities	(577)				(557)	(20)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	54,158				52,351	1,807
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	233				224	9
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		89
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	17,309		17,309
Sale of common stock, net	(314)		(314)
Equity based compensation costs	11,446		11,059			387
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)		(740)
Retirement of common stock, net	(189,726)	$ (1)	(189,725)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,038		6,230			808
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	125					125
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(30,959)					(30,959)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		8
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(11,452)		(10,464)			(988)
Common stock dividends	(571,658)			(571,658)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		64,605
Balance at period end at Dec. 31, 2022	5,895,116	$ 6	6,750,076	(1,080,176)	46,466	178,744
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	430,708			405,825		24,883
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable debt securities	0
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	(13,364)				(12,910)	(454)
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	0
Issuance of common stock under:
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net (in shares)		21
Stock option and restricted stock plans, net	(3,825)		(3,825)
Sale of common stock, net	(347)		(347)
Equity based compensation costs	12,135		11,723			412
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)		(437)
Retirement of common stock, net	(95,657)		(95,657)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(5,055)		(5,150)			95
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(31,939)					(31,939)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		14
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest	(609)		(100)			(509)
Common stock dividends	(593,185)			(593,185)
Balance at period end (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023		64,203
Balance at period end at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 5,593,978	$ 6	$ 6,656,720	$ (1,267,536)	$ 33,556	$ 171,232