Stockholders' Equity of the Company and Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership - Summary of Changes in Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			$ 43,184
Net Income	$ 1,458	$ 1,149	3,531	$ 3,635
Unit Distributions			(77,923)
Other Comprehensive Income			1,544
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			0	0
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital			0
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income	(1,479)	(1,295)	(3,582)	(3,147)
Ending Balance	45,755		45,755
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			43,184	42,035
Net Income			3,531	3,635
Unit Distributions			(2,544)	(2,436)
Other Comprehensive Income			51	(449)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			(39)	(819)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital			1,569	2,489
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income			3	0
Ending Balance	45,755	44,455	45,755	44,455
First Industrial, L.P.
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			956
Net Income	43	38	96	112
Contributions			29
Distributions			(284)
Other Comprehensive Income			1,544
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			0	0
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income	(43)	(38)	(96)	(112)
Ending Balance	797		797
First Industrial, L.P. | Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			956	1,096
Net Income			96	112
Contributions			29	114
Distributions			(284)	(264)
Ending Balance	$ 797	$ 1,058	$ 797	$ 1,058