Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental and related revenue	$ 202,858	$ 196,912	$ 192,093	$ 193,456	$ 179,391	$ 169,611	$ 165,836	$ 171,676	$ 785,319	$ 686,514	$ 641,701
General contractor and service fee revenue	67,999	34,986	18,465	41,101	36,228	25,217	23,576	9,399	162,551	94,420	88,810
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 63,896	$ 53,025	$ 193,845	$ 72,963	$ 188,419	$ 165,269	$ 1,210,543	$ 70,200	$ 383,729	$ 1,634,431	$ 312,143
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.54	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.40	$ 0.20	$ 1.07	$ 4.58	$ 0.89
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.54	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.38	$ 0.20	$ 1.07	$ 4.56	$ 0.88
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	358,561	357,898	357,054	356,740	356,204	355,905	355,647	355,282	357,569	355,762	349,942
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	362,536	361,410	362,741	360,400	360,244	362,102	361,981	360,700	363,297	362,011	357,076
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and related revenue									$ 785,319	$ 686,514	$ 641,701
General contractor and service fee revenue									162,551	94,420	88,810
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 64,422	$ 53,520	$ 195,669	$ 73,646	$ 190,168	$ 166,804	$ 1,221,783	$ 70,852	$ 387,257	$ 1,649,607	$ 315,232
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.54	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.40	$ 0.20	$ 1.07	$ 4.58	$ 0.89
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.54	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 3.38	$ 0.20	$ 1.07	$ 4.56	$ 0.88
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	361,672	361,200	360,447	360,095	359,491	359,206	358,952	358,598	360,859	359,065	353,423
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	362,536	361,410	362,741	360,400	360,244	362,102	361,981	360,700	363,297	362,011	357,076