Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF PRESENTATIONS Significant Accounting Policies We have prepared our consolidated financial statements using the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. New Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends existing accounting standards for employee share-based payments, including by allowing an employer to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur or to continue to provide for an estimate as currently required. The new standard also allows an employer to withhold shares in a net settlement in an amount that does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate in the employees' tax jurisdiction without causing liability classification. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, does not require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedging criteria continue to be met. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including by requiring lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet and making certain changes to lessor accounting. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810), which changes the analysis an entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, the new standard i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities ("VIEs") or voting interest entities, ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership and iii) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods therein. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016, and the provisions of the new standard did not have any impact on the consolidation of our legal entities. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which creates a single source of revenue guidance. The new standard provides accounting guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers (unless the contracts are in the scope of other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requirements, such as the leasing literature). The guidance also provides a model for the measurement and recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets, such as property and equipment, including real estate. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted for public entities beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT. Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of Washington REIT, our majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which Washington REIT has a controlling interest, including where Washington REIT has been determined to be a primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). See note 3 for additional information on the property for which there is a noncontrolling interest. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have prepared the accompanying unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In addition, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Within these notes to the financial statements, we refer to the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 as the “2016 Quarter” and the “2015 Quarter,” respectively. Use of Estimates in the Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF PRESENTATIONS

Significant Accounting Policies

We have prepared our consolidated financial statements using the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends existing accounting standards for employee share-based payments, including by allowing an employer to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur or to continue to provide for an estimate as currently required. The new standard also allows an employer to withhold shares in a net settlement in an amount that does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate in the employees' tax jurisdiction without causing liability classification. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, does not require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedging criteria continue to be met. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including by requiring lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet and making certain changes to lessor accounting. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810), which changes the analysis an entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, the new standard i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities ("VIEs") or voting interest entities, ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership and iii) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods therein. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016, and the provisions of the new standard did not have any impact on the consolidation of our legal entities.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which creates a single source of revenue guidance. The new standard provides accounting guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers (unless the contracts are in the scope of other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requirements, such as the leasing literature). The guidance also provides a model for the measurement and recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets, such as property and equipment, including real estate. The new standard is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted for public entities beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on Washington REIT.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of Washington REIT, our majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which Washington REIT has a controlling interest, including where Washington REIT has been determined to be a primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). See note 3 for additional information on the property for which there is a noncontrolling interest. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In addition, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Within these notes to the financial statements, we refer to the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 as the “2016 Quarter” and the “2015 Quarter,” respectively.

Use of Estimates in the Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.