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	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 112,014	$ 76,434	$ 264,388	$ 591,058
Less: Dividends on participating securities	(580)	(593)	(1,751)	(1,803)
Basic net income attributable to common shareholders	111,434	75,841	262,637	589,255
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	580	593	1,751	1,803
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Redeemable	1,131	751	2,670	6,212
Diluted net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 113,145	$ 77,185	$ 267,058	$ 597,270
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	351,856	345,256	348,341	344,986
Weighted Average Limited Partnership Units Outstanding, Basic	3,495	3,504	3,499	3,609
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,630	3,390	3,565	3,418
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	358,981	352,150	355,405	352,013
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 113,145	$ 77,185	$ 267,058	$ 597,270
Less: Dividends on participating securities	(580)	(593)	(1,751)	(1,803)
Basic net income attributable to common unitholders	112,565	76,592	265,307	595,467
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	580	593	1,751	1,803
Diluted Net Income Loss Attributable To Common Unitholders	$ 113,145	$ 77,185	$ 267,058	$ 597,270
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	355,351	348,760	351,840	348,595
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,630	3,390	3,565	3,418
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	358,981	352,150	355,405	352,013

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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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