Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Preferred Stock [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partner [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,626,118	$ 2,794	$ 625,638	$ 3,953,497	$ 2,691	$ (1,993,206)	$ 34,704
Beginning Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2012								$ 2,625,951	$ 1,967,091	$ 625,638	$ 21,383	$ 2,691	$ 2,616,803	$ 9,148
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	196,549					190,592	5,957	196,549	158,976	31,616	2,094		192,686	3,863
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,428				1,428			1,428				1,428	1,428
Issuance of common shares	649,690	462		649,228
Capital Contribution from the General Partner								649,690	649,690				649,690
Stock-based compensation plan activity	9,656	8		11,976		(2,328)		9,656	9,656				9,656
Conversion of Limited Partner Units				331			(331)		331		(331)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(31,616)					(31,616)		(31,616)		(31,616)			(31,616)
Redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(177,955)		(177,955)	5,932		(5,932)		(177,955)		(177,955)			(177,955)
Distributions to Partners								(223,362)	(220,374)		(2,988)		(223,362)
Distributions to common shareholders	(220,297)					(220,297)
Contributions from (Distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	(8,944)						(8,944)	(5,956)						(5,956)
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2013	3,044,629	3,264	447,683	4,620,964	4,119	(2,062,787)	31,386
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2013								3,044,385	2,565,370	447,683	20,158	4,119	3,037,330	7,055
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	246,455					243,588	2,867	246,455	218,645	24,943	2,627		246,215	240
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,093)				(1,093)			(1,093)				(1,093)	(1,093)
Issuance of common shares	289,122	164		288,958
Capital Contribution from the General Partner								289,122	289,122				289,122
Stock-based compensation plan activity	11,123	7		13,300		(2,184)		11,123	11,123				11,123
Conversion of Limited Partner Units		6		6,735			(6,741)		2,566		(2,566)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(24,943)					(24,943)		(24,943)		(24,943)			(24,943)
Redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(446,592)		(447,683)	14,843		(13,752)		(446,592)	1,091	(447,683)			(446,592)
Distributions to Partners								(231,112)	(228,161)		(2,951)		(231,112)
Distributions to common shareholders	(228,227)					(228,227)
Contributions from (Distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	(2,791)						(2,791)	158						158
Buyout of noncontrolling interests	(7,803)					(2,637)	(5,166)	(7,803)	(2,637)		21		(2,616)	(5,187)
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2014	2,879,880	3,441	0	4,944,800	3,026	(2,090,942)	19,555
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2014								2,879,700	2,857,119	0	17,289	3,026	2,877,434	2,266
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	621,861					615,310	6,551	621,861	615,310		6,404		621,714	147
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,220)				(1,220)			(1,220)				(1,220)	(1,220)
Issuance of common shares	4,530	2		4,528
Capital Contribution from the General Partner								4,710	4,710				4,710
Stock-based compensation plan activity	9,673	8		10,114		(2,449)	2,000	9,673	7,673		2,000		9,673
Conversion of Limited Partner Units		2		2,481			(2,483)		2,483		(2,483)
Distributions to Partners								(241,292)	(238,114)		(3,178)		(241,292)
Distributions to common shareholders	(238,114)					(238,114)
Distributions to common shareholders/Partners - special	(69,055)					(69,055)		(69,055)	(69,055)				(69,055)
Contributions from (Distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	(2,754)						(2,754)	424						424
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,204,801	$ 3,453	$ 0	$ 4,961,923	$ 1,806	$ (1,785,250)	$ 22,869
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2015								$ 3,204,801	$ 3,180,126	$ 0	$ 20,032	$ 1,806	$ 3,201,964	$ 2,837