Quarterly Financial Information - Net Income (loss) Available to Common Stockholders and Basic and Diluted EPS (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total Revenues	$ 84,136	$ 81,294	$ 82,098	$ 80,698	$ 81,220	$ 76,636	$ 78,946	$ 77,523	$ 328,226	$ 314,325	$ 302,668
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures	17	72	27	20	1,403	28	37	91	136	1,559	980
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Continuing Operations	(67)	39	293	128	487	204	1,005	538	(356)	(2,038)	(3,185)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Noncontrolling Interest	2,699	2,592	(984)	1,027	(3,081)	(246)	(12,502)	(4,396)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations	19,323	5,919	12,639	(2,284)	1,164	5,869	3,141	5,989	35,597	16,163	23,523
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Discontinued Operations	(797)	(246)	(538)	104	(54)	(285)	(167)	(331)	(1,477)	(837)	(1,440)
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Income Tax	337	291	0	262	0	3,777	0	0	890	3,777	918
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(13)	(12)	0	(12)	0	(196)	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.	21,549	8,544	11,117	(903)	(1,971)	8,919	(9,528)	1,262	40,307	(1,318)	(7,445)
Preferred Dividends	(1,227)	(1,392)	(2,277)	(3,837)	(4,662)	(4,725)	(4,798)	(4,762)	(8,733)	(18,947)	(19,565)
Redemption of Preferred Stock	0	(2,121)	(3,546)	0	(1,804)	0	0	0	(5,667)	(1,804)	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders and Participating Securities	20,322	5,031	5,294	(4,740)	(8,437)	4,194	(14,326)	(3,500)	25,907	(22,069)	(27,010)
Income From Continuing Operations Allocable to Participating Securities	(8)	0	0	(36)
Income from Discontinued Operations Allocable to Participating Securities	82	42	42	0	0	33	0	0	162	0	0
Net (Loss) Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 20,232	$ 4,989	$ 5,252	$ (4,776)	$ (8,437)	$ 4,161	$ (14,326)	$ (3,500)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Loss from Continuing Operations Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.61)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.05	$ 0.11	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ 0.06	$ 0.03	$ 0.07	$ 0.32	$ 0.17	$ 0.27
Net (Loss) Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 0.18	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ (0.05)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.04	$ (0.16)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.24	$ (0.24)	$ (0.34)
Weighted Average Shares - Basic and Diluted					97,738	93,488	87,981	86,575	106,995	91,468	80,616
Weighted Average Shares - Basic	109,490	109,474	108,117	100,774
LTIP Unit Awards	485	0	0	0
Weighted Average Shares - Diluted	109,975	109,474	108,117	100,774