Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 70,781	$ 43,756
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	66,172	62,120
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	15,385	15,678
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,316	1,318
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(2,928)	(2,928)
Impairment charges	859	6,405
Gain on debt extinguishment	(25)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(38,551)	(15,621)
Third-party construction contracts, net	714	1,764
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	(3,498)	(23,146)
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(282)	(16,475)
Net cash provided by operating activities	109,943	72,871
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(112,727)	(108,179)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(114,369)	0
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(50,436)	(27,243)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(10,431)	(14,401)
Other deferred leasing costs	(4,398)	(8,359)
Other assets	(26,210)	31,948
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	103,120	57,410
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	4,858	29,452
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(297)	(23,237)
Net cash used for investing activities	(210,890)	(62,609)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	786	548
Payments on unsecured debt	(616)	(579)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(17,539)	(16,377)
Borrowings on line of credit, net	189,000	77,000
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(67,554)	(62,262)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(640)	(630)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(8,848)	(6,162)
Change in book overdrafts	7,115	(8,693)
Deferred financing costs	(7)	0
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	101,697	(17,155)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	750	(6,893)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13,389	15,640
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Mortgage notes receivable from buyers in property sales	0	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	1,685	150
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	70,781	43,756
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	66,172	62,120
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	15,385	15,678
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,316	1,318
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(2,928)	(2,928)
Impairment charges	859	6,405
Gain on debt extinguishment	(25)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(38,551)	(15,621)
Third-party construction contracts, net	714	1,764
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	(3,498)	(23,146)
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(282)	(16,475)
Net cash provided by operating activities	109,943	72,871
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(112,727)	(108,179)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(114,369)	0
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(50,436)	(27,243)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(10,431)	(14,401)
Other deferred leasing costs	(4,398)	(8,359)
Other assets	(26,210)	31,948
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	103,120	57,410
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	4,858	29,452
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(297)	(23,237)
Net cash used for investing activities	(210,890)	(62,609)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	786	548
Payments on unsecured debt	(616)	(579)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(17,539)	(16,377)
Borrowings on line of credit, net	189,000	77,000
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(68,184)	(62,889)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(10)	(3)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(8,848)	(6,162)
Change in book overdrafts	7,115	(8,693)
Deferred financing costs	(7)	0
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	101,697	(17,155)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	750	(6,893)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13,389	15,640
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Mortgage notes receivable from buyers in property sales	0	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 1,685	$ 150