Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partners' Common Equity [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Partners' Equity, Total [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,493,293	$ 3,548	$ 5,192,011	$ 682	$ (1,730,423)	$ 27,475
Beginning Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2016							$ 3,493,293	$ 3,465,136	$ 24,691	$ 3,490,509	$ 682	$ 2,784
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	1,654,341				1,634,431	19,910	1,654,341	1,634,431	15,176	1,649,607		4,734
Other comprehensive loss	(682)			(682)			(682)			(682)	(682)
Issuance of common shares	13,383	5	13,378
Capital Contribution from the General Partner							13,383	13,383		13,383
Stock-based compensation plan activity	3,214	10	(1,555)		(3,212)	7,971	3,214	(4,757)	7,971	3,214
Conversion of Limited Partner Units		1	1,846			(1,847)		1,847	(1,847)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	(457)		(364)			(93)	(457)	(364)	(93)	(457)
Distributions to Partners							(276,539)	(273,999)	(2,540)	(276,539)
Distributions to common shareholders/Partners - regular	(273,999)				(273,999)
Distributions to common shareholders/Partners - special	(302,833)				(302,833)		(305,628)	(302,833)	(2,795)	(305,628)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(11,882)					(11,882)	(6,547)					(6,547)
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2017	4,574,378	3,564	5,205,316	0	(676,036)	41,534
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2017							4,574,378	4,532,844	40,563	4,573,407	0	971
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	387,268				383,729	3,539	387,268	383,729	3,528	387,257		11
Other comprehensive loss	(4,676)			(4,676)			(4,676)			(4,676)	(4,676)
Issuance of common shares	34,913	12	34,901
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,475					3,475	3,475					3,475
Capital Contribution from the General Partner							34,913	34,913		34,913
Stock-based compensation plan activity	12,118	8	4,432		(1,278)	8,956	12,118	3,162	8,956	12,118
Conversion of Limited Partner Units		5	(274)			269		(269)	269
Distributions to Partners							(294,233)	(291,502)	(2,731)	(294,233)
Distributions to common shareholders/Partners - regular	(291,502)				(291,502)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(2,731)					(2,731)
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2018	4,713,243	3,589	5,244,375	(4,676)	(585,087)	55,042
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2018							4,713,243	4,662,877	50,585	4,708,786	(4,676)	4,457
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	432,644				428,972	3,672	432,644	428,972	3,678	432,650		(6)
Other comprehensive loss	(30,360)			(30,360)			(30,360)			(30,360)	(30,360)
Issuance of common shares	272,761	83	272,678
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	312					312	312					312
Capital Contribution from the General Partner							272,761	272,761		272,761
Stock-based compensation plan activity	13,322	7	6,787		(1,175)	7,703	13,322	5,619	7,703	13,322
Conversion of Limited Partner Units		1	1,623			(1,624)		1,624	(1,624)
Distributions to Partners							(321,469)	(318,702)	(2,767)	(321,469)
Distributions to common shareholders/Partners - regular	(318,702)				(318,702)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(2,960)					(2,960)	(193)					(193)
Ending Balance - General Partner at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 5,080,260	$ 3,680	$ 5,525,463	$ (35,036)	$ (475,992)	$ 62,145
Ending Balance - Partnership at Dec. 31, 2019							$ 5,080,260	$ 5,053,151	$ 57,575	$ 5,075,690	$ (35,036)	$ 4,570