Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share Reconciling the Components of Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 109,067	$ 449,380	$ 152,374	$ 514,624
Less: Dividends on participating securities	(582)	(589)	(1,171)	(1,209)
Basic net income attributable to common shareholders	108,485	448,791	151,203	513,415
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	582	0	569	0
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Redeemable	1,101	4,762	1,539	5,461
Diluted net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 110,168	$ 453,553	$ 153,311	$ 518,876
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	347,464	345,098	346,564	344,849
Weighted Average Limited Partnership Units Outstanding, Basic	3,504	3,630	3,501	3,662
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,465	433	2,162	434
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	354,433	349,161	352,227	348,945
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 110,168	$ 454,142	$ 153,913	$ 520,085
Less: Dividends on participating securities	(582)	(589)	(1,171)	(1,209)
Basic net income attributable to common unitholders	109,586	453,553	152,742	518,876
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	582	0	569	0
Diluted Net Income Loss Attributable To Common Unitholders	$ 110,168	$ 453,553	$ 153,311	$ 518,876
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	350,968	348,728	350,065	348,511
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,465	433	2,162	434
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	354,433	349,161	352,227	348,945

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Net income or loss attributable to common shareholders or unitholders after allocation of distributed and undistributed earnings to participating securities.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Net Income or Loss Available to Common Stockholders plus adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

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Amount after tax of income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling partner in an operating partnership.

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Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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The sum of dilutive potential common shares or units used in the calculation of the diluted per-share or per-unit computation.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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