Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	$ 813,434	$ 816,065	$ 822,351
General contractor and service fee revenue	88,810	133,367	224,500
Revenues, Total	902,244	949,432	1,046,851
Expenses:
Rental expenses	107,410	125,666	136,278
Real estate taxes	118,654	112,879	115,013
General contractor and other services expenses	80,467	119,170	200,031
Depreciation and amortization	317,818	317,329	346,275
Costs and expenses, total	624,349	675,044	797,597
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated companies	47,403	(3,304)	94,317
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	30,697	0	0
Promote income	26,299	0	0
Gain on sale of properties	162,093	229,702	162,715
Gain on land sales	9,865	35,054	10,441
Other operating expenses	(3,864)	(5,947)	(7,191)
Impairment charges	(18,018)	(22,932)	(49,106)
General and administrative expenses	(55,389)	(58,565)	(49,362)
Other operating activities, net	199,086	174,008	161,814
Operating income	476,981	448,396	411,068
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	4,035	4,667	1,246
Interest expense	(141,576)	(173,574)	(196,186)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(33,934)	(85,713)	(283)
Acquisition-related activity	7,176	(8,499)	(1,099)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	312,682	185,277	214,746
Income tax benefit	589	3,928	844
Income from continuing operations	313,271	189,205	215,590
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales	991	10,939	11,071
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	1,016	421,717	19,794
Income from discontinued operations	2,007	432,656	30,865
Net income	315,278	621,861	246,455
Dividends on preferred shares	0	0	(24,943)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	0	0	(13,752)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,135)	(6,551)	(2,867)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 312,143	$ 615,310	$ 204,893
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.88	$ 0.53	$ 0.51
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.01	1.24	0.09
Total	0.89	1.77	0.60
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.88	0.53	0.51
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.00	1.24	0.09
Total	$ 0.88	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	349,942	345,057	335,777
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	357,076	352,197	340,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 315,278	$ 621,861	$ 246,455
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,101)	(1,125)	(1,148)
Other	(23)	(95)	55
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,124)	(1,220)	(1,093)
Comprehensive income	314,154	620,641	245,362
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	813,434	816,065	822,351
General contractor and service fee revenue	88,810	133,367	224,500
Revenues, Total	902,244	949,432	1,046,851
Expenses:
Rental expenses	107,410	125,666	136,278
Real estate taxes	118,654	112,879	115,013
General contractor and other services expenses	80,467	119,170	200,031
Depreciation and amortization	317,818	317,329	346,275
Costs and expenses, total	624,349	675,044	797,597
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated companies	47,403	(3,304)	94,317
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	30,697	0	0
Promote income	26,299	0	0
Gain on sale of properties	162,093	229,702	162,715
Gain on land sales	9,865	35,054	10,441
Other operating expenses	(3,864)	(5,947)	(7,191)
Impairment charges	(18,018)	(22,932)	(49,106)
General and administrative expenses	(55,389)	(58,565)	(49,362)
Other operating activities, net	199,086	174,008	161,814
Operating income	476,981	448,396	411,068
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	4,035	4,667	1,246
Interest expense	(141,576)	(173,574)	(196,186)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(33,934)	(85,713)	(283)
Acquisition-related activity	7,176	(8,499)	(1,099)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	312,682	185,277	214,746
Income tax benefit	589	3,928	844
Income from continuing operations	313,271	189,205	215,590
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales	991	10,939	11,071
Gain on sale of depreciable properties, net of tax	1,016	421,717	19,794
Income from discontinued operations	2,007	432,656	30,865
Net income	315,278	621,861	246,455
Dividends on preferred shares	0	0	(24,943)
Adjustments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	0	0	(13,752)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(46)	(147)	(240)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 315,232	$ 621,714	$ 207,520
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.88	$ 0.53	$ 0.51
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.01	1.24	0.09
Total	0.89	1.77	0.60
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.88	0.53	0.51
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.00	1.24	0.09
Total	$ 0.88	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	353,423	348,639	340,085
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	357,076	352,197	340,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 315,278	$ 621,861	$ 246,455
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Amortization of interest contracts	(1,101)	(1,125)	(1,148)
Other	(23)	(95)	55
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,124)	(1,220)	(1,093)
Comprehensive income	$ 314,154	$ 620,641	$ 245,362