Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Rental and related revenue	$ 179,391	$ 169,611	$ 165,836	$ 171,676	$ 160,882	$ 162,322	$ 157,910	$ 160,587	$ 686,514	$ 641,701	$ 658,809
General contractor and service fee revenue	36,228	25,217	23,576	9,399	20,264	19,351	26,044	23,151	94,420	88,810	133,367
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 188,419	$ 165,269	$ 1,210,543	$ 70,200	$ 47,755	$ 112,014	$ 109,067	$ 43,307	$ 1,634,431	$ 312,143	$ 615,310
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.40	$ 0.20	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 4.58	$ 0.89	$ 1.77
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.38	$ 0.20	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 4.56	$ 0.88	$ 1.77
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	356,204	355,905	355,647	355,282	354,711	351,856	347,464	345,665	355,762	349,942	345,057
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	360,244	362,102	361,981	360,700	359,024	358,981	354,433	349,674	362,011	357,076	352,197
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and related revenue									$ 686,514	$ 641,701	$ 658,809
General contractor and service fee revenue									94,420	88,810	133,367
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 190,168	$ 166,804	$ 1,221,783	$ 70,852	$ 48,174	$ 113,145	$ 110,168	$ 43,745	$ 1,649,607	$ 315,232	$ 621,714
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.40	$ 0.20	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 4.58	$ 0.89	$ 1.77
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.38	$ 0.20	$ 0.13	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.12	$ 4.56	$ 0.88	$ 1.77
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	359,491	359,206	358,952	358,598	358,135	355,351	350,968	349,163	359,065	353,423	348,639
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	360,244	362,102	361,981	360,700	359,024	358,981	354,433	349,674	362,011	357,076	352,197