Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Shareholders' Equity

Reconciliation of changes in shareholders equity

	Shareholders’			Shareholders’
	Equity			Equity
	Attributable to			Attributable to			Total
	CommonWealth			Noncontrolling			Shareholders’
	REIT			Interest			Equity
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	3,105,428		$	396,040		$	3,501,468
Net income	25,667			9,957			35,624
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	1,051			—			1,051
Foreign currency translation adjustments	973			—			973
Equity in unrealized loss of an investee	(12		)	(4		)	(16		)
Total comprehensive income	27,679			9,953			37,632
Issuance of common shares, net	627,027			(36		)	626,991
Distributions	(32,102		)	(7,259		)	(39,361		)
Balance at March 31, 2013	$	3,728,032		$	398,698		$	4,126,730