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, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 1,210,543	$ 109,067	$ 1,280,743	$ 152,374
Less: dividends on participating securities	(540)	(582)	(1,083)	(1,171)
Basic net income attributable to common shareholders	1,210,003	108,485	1,279,660	151,203
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	540	582	1,083	569
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Redeemable	11,240	1,101	11,892	1,539
Diluted net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 1,221,783	$ 110,168	$ 1,292,635	$ 153,311
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	355,647	347,464	355,466	346,564
Weighted Average Limited Partnership Units Outstanding, Basic	3,305	3,504	3,310	3,501
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,029	3,465	3,013	2,162
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	361,981	354,433	361,789	352,227
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 1,221,783	$ 110,168	$ 1,292,635	$ 153,913
Less: dividends on participating securities	(540)	(582)	(1,083)	(1,171)
Basic net income attributable to common unitholders	1,221,243	109,586	1,291,552	152,742
Participating Securities, Distributed and Undistributed Earnings (Loss), Diluted	540	582	1,083	569
Diluted Net Income Loss Attributable To Common Unitholders	$ 1,221,783	$ 110,168	$ 1,292,635	$ 153,311
Weighted average number of common shares/units outstanding, Basic	358,952	350,968	358,776	350,065
Other potential dilutive shares/units	3,029	3,465	3,013	2,162
Weighted average number of common shares/units and potential dilutive securities	361,981	354,433	361,789	352,227

Diluted Net Income Loss Attributable To Common Unitholders

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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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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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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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