Stockholders' Equity of the Company and Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership - Summary of Changes in Noncontrolling Interest (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			$ 42,035
Net Income	$ 1,149	$ 548	3,635	$ 1,197
Other Comprehensive Loss (Including a Reallocation of $39 and $3)			(13,554)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value			0	0
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital			0
Ending Balance	44,455		44,455
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			42,035	41,877
Net Income			3,635	1,197
Distributions			(2,436)	(1,669)
Other Comprehensive Loss (Including a Reallocation of $39 and $3)			(449)	(65)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value			(819)	(106)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital			2,489	107
Ending Balance	44,455	41,341	44,455	41,341
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			39	3
First Industrial, L.P.
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			1,096
Net Income	38	27	112	75
Contributions			114
Distributions			(264)
Other Comprehensive Loss (Including a Reallocation of $39 and $3)			(13,554)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value			0	0
Ending Balance	1,058		1,058
First Industrial, L.P. | Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			1,096	1,080
Net Income			112	75
Contributions			114	61
Distributions			(264)	(85)
Ending Balance	$ 1,058	$ 1,131	$ 1,058	$ 1,131