Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	$ 816,065	$ 822,351	$ 762,164
General contractor and service fee revenue	133,367	224,500	206,596
Revenues, Total	949,432	1,046,851	968,760
Expenses:
Rental expenses	125,666	136,278	127,684
Real estate taxes	112,879	115,013	104,800
General contractor and other services expenses	119,170	200,031	183,833
Depreciation and amortization	317,329	346,275	353,456
Costs and expenses, total	675,044	797,597	769,773
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated companies	(3,304)	94,317	54,116
Gain on sale of properties	229,702	162,715	59,179
Gain on land sales	35,054	10,441	9,547
Other operating expenses	(5,947)	(7,191)	(8,144)
Impairment charges	(22,932)	(49,106)	(3,777)
General and administrative expenses	(58,565)	(49,362)	(42,673)
Other operating activities, net	174,008	161,814	68,248
Operating income	448,396	411,068	267,235
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	4,667	1,246	1,887
Interest expense	(173,574)	(196,186)	(202,174)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(85,713)	(283)	(9,433)
Acquisition-related activity	(8,499)	(1,099)	(3,093)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	185,277	214,746	54,422
Income tax benefit	3,928	844	5,080
Income from continuing operations	189,205	215,590	59,502
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales	10,939	11,071	3,805
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	421,717	19,794	133,242
Income from discontinued operations	432,656	30,865	137,047
Net income	621,861	246,455	196,549
Dividends on preferred shares	0	(24,943)	(31,616)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	0	(13,752)	(5,932)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,551)	(2,867)	(5,957)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 615,310	$ 204,893	$ 153,044
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.53	$ 0.51	$ 0.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.24	0.09	0.41
Total	1.77	0.60	0.47
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.53	0.51	0.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.24	0.09	0.41
Total	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	345,057	335,777	322,133
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	352,197	340,446	326,712
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 621,861	$ 246,455	$ 196,549
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,125)	(1,148)	451
Other	(95)	55	977
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,220)	(1,093)	1,428
Comprehensive income	620,641	245,362	197,977
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	816,065	822,351	762,164
General contractor and service fee revenue	133,367	224,500	206,596
Revenues, Total	949,432	1,046,851	968,760
Expenses:
Rental expenses	125,666	136,278	127,684
Real estate taxes	112,879	115,013	104,800
General contractor and other services expenses	119,170	200,031	183,833
Depreciation and amortization	317,329	346,275	353,456
Costs and expenses, total	675,044	797,597	769,773
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated companies	(3,304)	94,317	54,116
Gain on sale of properties	229,702	162,715	59,179
Gain on land sales	35,054	10,441	9,547
Other operating expenses	(5,947)	(7,191)	(8,144)
Impairment charges	(22,932)	(49,106)	(3,777)
General and administrative expenses	(58,565)	(49,362)	(42,673)
Other operating activities, net	174,008	161,814	68,248
Operating income	448,396	411,068	267,235
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	4,667	1,246	1,887
Interest expense	(173,574)	(196,186)	(202,174)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(85,713)	(283)	(9,433)
Acquisition-related activity	(8,499)	(1,099)	(3,093)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	185,277	214,746	54,422
Income tax benefit	3,928	844	5,080
Income from continuing operations	189,205	215,590	59,502
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales	10,939	11,071	3,805
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	421,717	19,794	133,242
Income from discontinued operations	432,656	30,865	137,047
Net income	621,861	246,455	196,549
Dividends on preferred shares	0	(24,943)	(31,616)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	0	(13,752)	(5,932)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(147)	(240)	(3,863)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 621,714	$ 207,520	$ 155,138
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.53	$ 0.51	$ 0.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.24	0.09	0.41
Total	1.77	0.60	0.47
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.53	0.51	0.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.24	0.09	0.41
Total	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	348,639	340,085	326,525
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	352,197	340,446	326,712
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 621,861	$ 246,455	$ 196,549
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,125)	(1,148)	451
Other	(95)	55	977
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,220)	(1,093)	1,428
Comprehensive income	$ 620,641	$ 245,362	$ 197,977