Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Rental and related revenue	$ 204,263	$ 206,848	$ 200,520	$ 201,803	$ 198,516	$ 200,938	$ 201,996	$ 214,615	$ 813,434	$ 816,065	$ 822,351
General contractor and service fee revenue	20,264	19,351	26,044	23,151	23,047	33,599	23,901	52,820	88,810	133,367	224,500
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 47,755	$ 112,014	$ 109,067	$ 43,307	$ 24,252	$ 76,434	$ 449,380	$ 65,244	$ 312,143	$ 615,310	$ 204,893
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ 0.89	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ 0.88	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	354,711	351,856	347,464	345,665	345,267	345,256	345,098	344,597	349,942	345,057	335,777
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	359,024	358,981	354,433	349,674	349,532	352,150	349,161	348,653	357,076	352,197	340,446
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and related revenue									$ 813,434	$ 816,065	$ 822,351
General contractor and service fee revenue									88,810	133,367	224,500
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 48,174	$ 113,145	$ 110,168	$ 43,745	$ 24,444	$ 77,185	$ 454,142	$ 65,943	$ 315,232	$ 621,714	$ 207,520
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ 0.89	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.22	$ 1.30	$ 0.19	$ 0.88	$ 1.77	$ 0.60
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	358,135	355,351	350,968	349,163	348,769	348,760	348,728	348,292	353,423	348,639	340,085
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	359,024	358,981	354,433	349,674	349,532	352,150	349,161	348,653	357,076	352,197	340,446