Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	$ 940,204,000	$ 873,417,000	$ 770,008,000
General contractor and service fee revenue	224,500,000	206,596,000	275,071,000
Revenues, Total	1,164,704,000	1,080,013,000	1,045,079,000
Expenses:
Rental expenses	168,638,000	158,837,000	137,629,000
Real estate taxes	128,563,000	117,681,000	106,071,000
General contractor and other services expenses	200,031,000	183,833,000	254,870,000
Depreciation and amortization	384,412,000	392,627,000	348,268,000
Costs and expenses, total	881,644,000	852,978,000	846,838,000
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies	94,317,000	54,116,000	4,674,000
Gain on sale of properties	162,715,000	59,179,000	344,000
Gain on land sales	10,441,000	9,547,000	0
Undeveloped land carrying costs	(6,962,000)	(8,614,000)	(8,829,000)
Impairment charges	(49,106,000)	(3,777,000)	0
Other operating income (expenses)	(229,000)	470,000	(633,000)
General and administrative expenses	(49,362,000)	(42,673,000)	(46,424,000)
Other operating activities, net	161,814,000	68,248,000	(50,868,000)
Operating income (loss)	444,874,000	295,283,000	147,373,000
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	1,246,000	1,887,000	514,000
Interest expense	(219,613,000)	(228,324,000)	(229,417,000)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(283,000)	(9,433,000)	0
Acquisition-related activity	(1,099,000)	(3,093,000)	(4,192,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	225,125,000	56,320,000	(85,722,000)
Income tax benefit	844,000	5,080,000	103,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	225,969,000	61,400,000	(85,619,000)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) before gain on sales	692,000	1,907,000	(3,716,000)
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	19,794,000	133,242,000	13,467,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	20,486,000	135,149,000	9,751,000
Net income (loss)	246,455,000	196,549,000	(75,868,000)
Dividends on preferred shares	(24,943,000)	(31,616,000)	(46,438,000)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(13,752,000)	(5,932,000)	(5,730,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(2,867,000)	(5,957,000)	1,891,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	204,893,000	153,044,000	(126,145,000)
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.54	$ 0.06	$ (0.52)
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.06	$ 0.41	$ 0.04
Total	$ 0.60	$ 0.47	$ (0.48)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.54	$ 0.06	$ (0.52)
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.06	$ 0.41	$ 0.04
Total	$ 0.60	$ 0.47	$ (0.48)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	335,777	322,133	267,900
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	340,446	326,712	267,900
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	246,455,000	196,549,000	(75,868,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,148,000)	451,000	1,829,000
Other	55,000	977,000	(125,000)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,093,000)	1,428,000	1,704,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	245,362,000	197,977,000	(74,164,000)
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	940,204,000	873,417,000	770,008,000
General contractor and service fee revenue	224,500,000	206,596,000	275,071,000
Revenues, Total	1,164,704,000	1,080,013,000	1,045,079,000
Expenses:
Rental expenses	168,638,000	158,837,000	137,629,000
Real estate taxes	128,563,000	117,681,000	106,071,000
General contractor and other services expenses	200,031,000	183,833,000	254,870,000
Depreciation and amortization	384,412,000	392,627,000	348,268,000
Costs and expenses, total	881,644,000	852,978,000	846,838,000
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies	94,317,000	54,116,000	4,674,000
Gain on sale of properties	162,715,000	59,179,000	344,000
Gain on land sales	10,441,000	9,547,000	0
Undeveloped land carrying costs	(6,962,000)	(8,614,000)	(8,829,000)
Impairment charges	(49,106,000)	(3,777,000)	0
Other operating income (expenses)	(229,000)	470,000	(633,000)
General and administrative expenses	(49,362,000)	(42,673,000)	(46,424,000)
Other operating activities, net	161,814,000	68,248,000	(50,868,000)
Operating income (loss)	444,874,000	295,283,000	147,373,000
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	1,246,000	1,887,000	514,000
Interest expense	(219,613,000)	(228,324,000)	(229,417,000)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(283,000)	(9,433,000)	0
Acquisition-related activity	(1,099,000)	(3,093,000)	(4,192,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	225,125,000	56,320,000	(85,722,000)
Income tax benefit	844,000	5,080,000	103,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	225,969,000	61,400,000	(85,619,000)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) before gain on sales	692,000	1,907,000	(3,716,000)
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	19,794,000	133,242,000	13,467,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	20,486,000	135,149,000	9,751,000
Net income (loss)	246,455,000	196,549,000	(75,868,000)
Dividends on preferred shares	(24,943,000)	(31,616,000)	(46,438,000)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(13,752,000)	(5,932,000)	(5,730,000)
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Joint Venture Partners, Nonredeemable	(240,000)	(3,863,000)	(382,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	207,520,000	155,138,000	(128,418,000)
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.54	$ 0.06	$ (0.52)
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.06	$ 0.41	$ 0.04
Total	$ 0.60	$ 0.47	$ (0.48)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.54	$ 0.06	$ (0.52)
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.06	$ 0.41	$ 0.04
Total	$ 0.60	$ 0.47	$ (0.48)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	340,085	326,525	272,729
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	340,446	326,712	272,729
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	246,455,000	196,549,000	(75,868,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,148,000)	451,000	1,829,000
Other	55,000	977,000	(125,000)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,093,000)	1,428,000	1,704,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 245,362,000	$ 197,977,000	$ (74,164,000)