Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	$ 855,833	$ 785,319	$ 686,514
General contractor and service fee revenue	117,926	162,551	94,420
Revenues, Total	973,759	947,870	780,934
Expenses:
Rental expenses	75,584	71,436	62,924
Real estate taxes	129,520	125,269	108,964
General contractor and other services expenses	111,566	153,909	89,457
Depreciation and amortization	327,223	312,217	273,561
Costs and expenses, total	643,893	662,831	534,906
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	31,406	21,444	63,310
Promote income	0	0	20,007
Gain on sale of properties	234,653	204,988	113,669
Gain on land sales	7,445	10,334	9,244
Other operating expenses	(5,318)	(5,231)	(4,212)
Impairment charges	0	0	(4,481)
Non-incremental costs related to successful leases	(12,402)	0	0
General and administrative expenses	(60,889)	(56,218)	(54,944)
Other operating activities, net	194,895	175,317	142,593
Operating income	524,761	460,356	388,621
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	9,941	17,234	14,721
Interest expense	(89,756)	(85,006)	(87,003)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(6,320)	(388)	(26,104)
Gain on involuntary conversion	(2,259)	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	440,885	392,196	290,235
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,686)	(8,828)	357
Income from continuing operations	432,199	383,368	290,592
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales and income taxes	0	108	18,436
Gain on sale of properties	445	3,792	1,357,778
Income tax expense	0	0	(12,465)
Income from discontinued operations	445	3,900	1,363,749
Net income	432,644	387,268	1,654,341
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,672)	(3,539)	(19,910)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 428,972	$ 383,729	$ 1,634,431
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 1.18	$ 1.06	$ 0.80
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0.01	3.78
Total	1.18	1.07	4.58
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.18	1.06	0.80
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0.01	3.76
Total	$ 1.18	$ 1.07	$ 4.56
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	362,234	357,569	355,762
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	367,339	363,297	362,011
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 432,644	$ 387,268	$ 1,654,341
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts	(30,893)	(4,676)	0
Amortization of interest rate swap contracts	533	0	(682)
Total other comprehensive loss	(30,360)	(4,676)	(682)
Comprehensive income	402,284	382,592	1,653,659
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	855,833	785,319	686,514
General contractor and service fee revenue	117,926	162,551	94,420
Revenues, Total	973,759	947,870	780,934
Expenses:
Rental expenses	75,584	71,436	62,924
Real estate taxes	129,520	125,269	108,964
General contractor and other services expenses	111,566	153,909	89,457
Depreciation and amortization	327,223	312,217	273,561
Costs and expenses, total	643,893	662,831	534,906
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	31,406	21,444	63,310
Promote income	0	0	20,007
Gain on sale of properties	234,653	204,988	113,669
Gain on land sales	7,445	10,334	9,244
Other operating expenses	(5,318)	(5,231)	(4,212)
Impairment charges	0	0	(4,481)
Non-incremental costs related to successful leases	(12,402)	0	0
General and administrative expenses	(60,889)	(56,218)	(54,944)
Other operating activities, net	194,895	175,317	142,593
Operating income	524,761	460,356	388,621
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	9,941	17,234	14,721
Interest expense	(89,756)	(85,006)	(87,003)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(6,320)	(388)	(26,104)
Gain on involuntary conversion	(2,259)	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	440,885	392,196	290,235
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,686)	(8,828)	357
Income from continuing operations	432,199	383,368	290,592
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales and income taxes	0	108	18,436
Gain on sale of properties	445	3,792	1,357,778
Income tax expense	0	0	(12,465)
Income from discontinued operations	445	3,900	1,363,749
Net income	432,644	387,268	1,654,341
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	(11)	(4,734)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 432,650	$ 387,257	$ 1,649,607
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 1.18	$ 1.06	$ 0.80
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0.01	3.78
Total	1.18	1.07	4.58
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1.18	1.06	0.80
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0.01	3.76
Total	$ 1.18	$ 1.07	$ 4.56
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	365,352	360,859	359,065
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	367,339	363,297	362,011
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 432,644	$ 387,268	$ 1,654,341
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts	(30,893)	(4,676)	0
Amortization of interest rate swap contracts	533	0	(682)
Total other comprehensive loss	(30,360)	(4,676)	(682)
Comprehensive income	$ 402,284	$ 382,592	$ 1,653,659