Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Rental and related revenue	$ 198,516	$ 200,938	$ 201,996	$ 214,615	$ 206,859	$ 202,067	$ 204,780	$ 208,645	$ 816,065	$ 822,351	$ 762,164
General contractor and service fee revenue	23,047	33,599	23,901	52,820	39,429	59,739	69,512	55,820	133,367	224,500	206,596
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 24,252	$ 76,434	$ 449,380	$ 65,244	$ (3,011)	$ 61,533	$ 127,688	$ 18,683	$ 615,310	$ 204,893	$ 153,044
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ (0.01)	$ 0.18	$ 0.38	$ 0.06	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ (0.01)	$ 0.18	$ 0.38	$ 0.06	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	345,267	345,256	345,098	344,597	342,853	341,165	331,753	327,106	345,057	335,777	322,133
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	349,532	352,150	349,161	348,653	342,853	345,826	336,414	331,716	352,197	340,446	326,712
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and related revenue									$ 816,065	$ 822,351	$ 762,164
General contractor and service fee revenue									133,367	224,500	206,596
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 24,444	$ 77,185	$ 454,142	$ 65,943	$ (3,122)	$ 62,328	$ 129,381	$ 18,933	$ 621,714	$ 207,520	$ 155,138
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ (0.01)	$ 0.18	$ 0.38	$ 0.06	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ (0.01)	$ 0.18	$ 0.38	$ 0.06	$ 1.77	$ 0.60	$ 0.47
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	348,769	348,760	348,728	348,292	346,934	345,545	336,139	331,493	348,639	340,085	326,525
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	349,532	352,150	349,161	348,653	346,934	345,826	336,414	331,716	352,197	340,446	326,712