Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,298,548	$ 153,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	124,883	126,594
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	30,002	31,365
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,672	2,608
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(7,722)	(5,768)
Impairment charges	859	12,056
Loss on debt extinguishment	9,536	2,430
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	0	(30,697)
Accrued promote income	0	(24,087)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,183,262)	(55,894)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(1,945)	723
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	4,179	1,012
Operating distributions received less than equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(46,303)	(16,080)
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,447	198,201
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(288,833)	(213,262)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(237,472)	(16,029)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(67,923)	(27,243)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(20,112)	(30,237)
Other deferred leasing costs	(16,091)	(14,993)
Other assets	(828,707)	182,996
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	1,977,127	174,882
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	111,557	36,328
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(2,039)	(50,955)
Net cash provided by investing activities	627,507	41,487
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	3,690	99,844
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	375,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(545,924)	(75,668)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(46,123)	(348,743)
Repayments of line of credit, net	(48,000)	(71,000)
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(135,131)	(124,651)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(1,298)	(1,304)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(9,003)	(6,829)
Change in book overdrafts	(13,470)	(10,974)
Deferred financing costs	(8)	(6,196)
Net cash used for financing activities	(795,267)	(170,521)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	63,687	69,167
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	76,326	91,700
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	400,000	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	1,683	185
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	1,298,548	153,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	124,883	126,594
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	30,002	31,365
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,672	2,608
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(7,722)	(5,768)
Impairment charges	859	12,056
Loss on debt extinguishment	9,536	2,430
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	0	(30,697)
Accrued promote income	0	(24,087)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,183,262)	(55,894)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(1,945)	723
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	4,179	1,012
Operating distributions received less than equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(46,303)	(16,080)
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,447	198,201
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(288,833)	(213,262)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(237,472)	(16,029)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(67,923)	(27,243)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(20,112)	(30,237)
Other deferred leasing costs	(16,091)	(14,993)
Other assets	(828,707)	182,996
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	1,977,127	174,882
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	111,557	36,328
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(2,039)	(50,955)
Net cash provided by investing activities	627,507	41,487
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	3,690	99,844
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	375,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(545,924)	(75,668)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(46,123)	(348,743)
Repayments of line of credit, net	(48,000)	(71,000)
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(136,388)	(125,903)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(41)	(52)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(9,003)	(6,829)
Change in book overdrafts	(13,470)	(10,974)
Deferred financing costs	(8)	(6,196)
Net cash used for financing activities	(795,267)	(170,521)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	63,687	69,167
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	76,326	91,700
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	400,000	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 1,683	$ 185