Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	$ 929,194	$ 855,833	$ 785,319
General contractor and service fee revenue	64,004	117,926	162,551
Revenues, Total	993,198	973,759	947,870
Expenses:
Rental expenses	76,639	75,584	71,436
Real estate taxes	149,295	129,520	125,269
General contractor and other services expenses	57,976	111,566	153,909
Depreciation and amortization	353,013	327,223	312,217
Costs and expenses, total	636,923	643,893	662,831
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	11,944	31,406	21,444
Gain on sale of properties	127,700	234,653	204,988
Gain on land sales	10,458	7,445	10,334
Other operating expenses	(8,209)	(5,318)	(5,231)
Impairment charges	(5,626)	0	0
Non-incremental costs related to successful leases	(12,292)	(12,402)	0
General and administrative expenses	(62,404)	(60,889)	(56,218)
Other operating activities, net	61,571	194,895	175,317
Operating income	417,846	524,761	460,356
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	1,721	9,941	17,234
Interest expense	(93,442)	(89,756)	(85,006)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(32,900)	(6,320)	(388)
Gain on involuntary conversion	(4,312)	(2,259)	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	297,537	440,885	392,196
Income tax benefit (expense)	5,112	(8,686)	(8,828)
Income from continuing operations	302,649	432,199	383,368
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales and income taxes	0	0	108
Gain on sale of properties	111	445	3,792
Income from discontinued operations	111	445	3,900
Net income	302,760	432,644	387,268
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,845)	(3,672)	(3,539)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 299,915	$ 428,972	$ 383,729
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.81	$ 1.18	$ 1.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0	0.01
Total	0.81	1.18	1.07
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.80	1.18	1.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0	0.01
Total	$ 0.80	$ 1.18	$ 1.07
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	370,057	362,234	357,569
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	374,156	367,339	363,297
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 302,760	$ 432,644	$ 387,268
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts	0	(30,893)	(4,676)
Amortization of interest rate swap contracts	3,468	533	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,468	(30,360)	(4,676)
Comprehensive income	306,228	402,284	382,592
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and related revenue	929,194	855,833	785,319
General contractor and service fee revenue	64,004	117,926	162,551
Revenues, Total	993,198	973,759	947,870
Expenses:
Rental expenses	76,639	75,584	71,436
Real estate taxes	149,295	129,520	125,269
General contractor and other services expenses	57,976	111,566	153,909
Depreciation and amortization	353,013	327,223	312,217
Costs and expenses, total	636,923	643,893	662,831
Other Operating Activities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	11,944	31,406	21,444
Gain on sale of properties	127,700	234,653	204,988
Gain on land sales	10,458	7,445	10,334
Other operating expenses	(8,209)	(5,318)	(5,231)
Impairment charges	(5,626)	0	0
Non-incremental costs related to successful leases	(12,292)	(12,402)	0
General and administrative expenses	(62,404)	(60,889)	(56,218)
Other operating activities, net	61,571	194,895	175,317
Operating income	417,846	524,761	460,356
Other income (expenses):
Interest and other income, net	1,721	9,941	17,234
Interest expense	(93,442)	(89,756)	(85,006)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(32,900)	(6,320)	(388)
Gain on involuntary conversion	(4,312)	(2,259)	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	297,537	440,885	392,196
Income tax benefit (expense)	5,112	(8,686)	(8,828)
Income from continuing operations	302,649	432,199	383,368
Discontinued operations:
Income before gain on sales and income taxes	0	0	108
Gain on sale of properties	111	445	3,792
Income from discontinued operations	111	445	3,900
Net income	302,760	432,644	387,268
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(182)	6	(11)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 302,578	$ 432,650	$ 387,257
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 0.81	$ 1.18	$ 1.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0	0.01
Total	0.81	1.18	1.07
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0.80	1.18	1.06
Discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	0	0	0.01
Total	$ 0.80	$ 1.18	$ 1.07
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding	373,360	365,352	360,859
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	374,156	367,339	363,297
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 302,760	$ 432,644	$ 387,268
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts	0	(30,893)	(4,676)
Amortization of interest rate swap contracts	3,468	533	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,468	(30,360)	(4,676)
Comprehensive income	$ 306,228	$ 402,284	$ 382,592