Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,464,175	$ 267,098
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	179,918	191,554
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	42,996	47,093
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,049	3,998
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(12,021)	(10,832)
Impairment charges	4,481	15,098
Loss on debt extinguishment	26,104	8,673
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	0	(30,697)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,331,058)	(140,512)
Third-party construction contracts, net	2,679	5,601
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	24,474	21,832
Operating distributions received less than equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(45,298)	(24,476)
Net cash provided by operating activities	360,499	354,430
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(421,702)	(308,199)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(620,869)	(16,029)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(127,662)	(77,593)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(34,350)	(39,169)
Other deferred leasing costs	(22,399)	(25,949)
Other assets	(492,982)	164,450
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	2,282,419	369,118
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	111,635	52,514
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(6,303)	(54,853)
Net cash provided by investing activities	667,787	64,290
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	7,309	217,513
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	375,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(691,492)	(285,339)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(71,154)	(352,723)
Repayments of line of credit, net	(43,000)	(71,000)
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(202,770)	(187,885)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(8,407)	(1,955)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(14,868)	(7,059)
Change in book overdrafts	11,245	(11,025)
Deferred financing costs	(16)	(6,569)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	(457)	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(1,013,610)	(331,042)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	14,676	87,678
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	27,315	110,211
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	404,846	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	1,714	1,015
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	1,464,175	267,098
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	179,918	191,554
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	42,996	47,093
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,049	3,998
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(12,021)	(10,832)
Impairment charges	4,481	15,098
Loss on debt extinguishment	26,104	8,673
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated company	0	(30,697)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,331,058)	(140,512)
Third-party construction contracts, net	2,679	5,601
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	24,474	21,832
Operating distributions received less than equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(45,298)	(24,476)
Net cash provided by operating activities	360,499	354,430
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(421,702)	(308,199)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(620,869)	(16,029)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(127,662)	(77,593)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(34,350)	(39,169)
Other deferred leasing costs	(22,399)	(25,949)
Other assets	(492,982)	164,450
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	2,282,419	369,118
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	111,635	52,514
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(6,303)	(54,853)
Net cash provided by investing activities	667,787	64,290
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	7,309	217,513
Proceeds from unsecured debt	0	375,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(691,492)	(285,339)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(71,154)	(352,723)
Repayments of line of credit, net	(43,000)	(71,000)
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(204,654)	(189,764)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(6,523)	(76)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(14,868)	(7,059)
Change in book overdrafts	11,245	(11,025)
Deferred financing costs	(16)	(6,569)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	(457)	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(1,013,610)	(331,042)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	14,676	87,678
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	12,639	22,533
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	27,315	110,211
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	404,846	1,685
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 1,714	$ 1,015