Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,654,341,000	$ 315,278,000	$ 621,861,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	242,606,000	255,419,000	253,683,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	56,866,000	62,399,000	67,163,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,402,000	5,327,000	6,997,000
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(16,051,000)	(13,743,000)	(22,396,000)
Impairment charges	4,481,000	18,018,000	22,932,000
Loss on debt extinguishment	26,104,000	33,934,000	85,713,000
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated joint venture	0	(30,697,000)	0
Gain on acquisitions	0	(7,272,000)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,480,691,000)	(172,974,000)	(689,647,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	1,000,000	5,273,000	4,033,000
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	1,016,000	16,903,000	11,025,000
Equity in earnings (in excess of ) less than operating distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	(46,958,000)	(30,627,000)	25,287,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	448,116,000	457,238,000	386,651,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(549,563,000)	(401,442,000)	(370,466,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(982,598,000)	(170,635,000)	(28,849,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(243,846,000)	(99,168,000)	(39,881,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(52,554,000)	(59,349,000)	(61,900,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(30,208,000)	(38,410,000)	(30,790,000)
Other assets	(80,609,000)	187,129,000	(19,083,000)
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	2,521,078,000	538,642,000	1,675,690,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	124,956,000	126,051,000	68,985,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,323,000)	(57,914,000)	(72,407,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	696,333,000	24,904,000	1,121,299,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	13,383,000	220,258,000	4,530,000
Proceeds from unsecured debt	300,000,000	375,000,000	0
Payments on unsecured debt	(692,137,000)	(440,040,000)	(913,143,000)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(72,648,000)	(354,832,000)	(245,665,000)
Repayments on line of credit, net	(48,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - regular	(273,999,000)	(255,279,000)	(238,114,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - special	(302,833,000)	0	(69,055,000)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	(11,882,000)	(2,640,000)	(2,754,000)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(14,946,000)	(7,103,000)	(7,270,000)
Change in book overdrafts	22,924,000	2,324,000	3,392,000
Deferred financing costs	(8,931,000)	(6,724,000)	(260,000)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	(457,000)	0	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(1,089,526,000)	(492,036,000)	(1,503,339,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	54,923,000	(9,894,000)	4,611,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	12,639,000	22,533,000	17,922,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	67,562,000	12,639,000	22,533,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	404,846,000	23,360,000	204,336,000
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	1,847,000	967,000	2,483,000
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	1,654,341,000	315,278,000	621,861,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	242,606,000	255,419,000	253,683,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	56,866,000	62,399,000	67,163,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,402,000	5,327,000	6,997,000
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(16,051,000)	(13,743,000)	(22,396,000)
Impairment charges	4,481,000	18,018,000	22,932,000
Loss on debt extinguishment	26,104,000	33,934,000	85,713,000
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated joint venture	0	(30,697,000)	0
Gain on acquisitions	0	(7,272,000)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(1,480,691,000)	(172,974,000)	(689,647,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	1,000,000	5,273,000	4,033,000
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	1,016,000	16,903,000	10,845,000
Equity in earnings (in excess of ) less than operating distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	(46,958,000)	(30,627,000)	25,287,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	448,116,000	457,238,000	386,471,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(549,563,000)	(401,442,000)	(370,466,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(982,598,000)	(170,635,000)	(28,849,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(243,846,000)	(99,168,000)	(39,881,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(52,554,000)	(59,349,000)	(61,900,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(30,208,000)	(38,410,000)	(30,790,000)
Other assets	(80,609,000)	187,129,000	(19,083,000)
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	2,521,078,000	538,642,000	1,675,690,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	124,956,000	126,051,000	68,985,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,323,000)	(57,914,000)	(72,407,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	696,333,000	24,904,000	1,121,299,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	13,383,000	220,258,000	4,710,000
Proceeds from unsecured debt	300,000,000	375,000,000	0
Payments on unsecured debt	(692,137,000)	(440,040,000)	(913,143,000)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(72,648,000)	(354,832,000)	(245,665,000)
Repayments on line of credit, net	(48,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - regular	(276,539,000)	(257,820,000)	(241,292,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - special	(305,628,000)	0	(69,055,000)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	(6,547,000)	(99,000)	424,000
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(14,946,000)	(7,103,000)	(7,270,000)
Change in book overdrafts	22,924,000	2,324,000	3,392,000
Deferred financing costs	(8,931,000)	(6,724,000)	(260,000)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	(457,000)
Net cash used for financing activities	(1,089,526,000)	(492,036,000)	(1,503,159,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	54,923,000	(9,894,000)	4,611,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	12,639,000	22,533,000	17,922,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	67,562,000	12,639,000	22,533,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	404,846,000	23,360,000	204,336,000
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 1,847,000	$ 967,000	$ 2,483,000