Stockholders’ Equity of the Company and Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 06, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 13, 2014	May 27, 2004
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Operating Partnership, aggregate cash payment			$ 113,304
Operating Partnership, shares			4,039,375
Dividend rate per share	6.275%
Cost associated with the redemptions			$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,462
Preferred stock shares authorized			10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding			0	0
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			$ 0	$ 0	0
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock			$ 124,936	$ 0	0
Series F Preferred Stock/Units
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Depositary shares issued							50,000
Depositary share percentage per share							1.00%
Dividend rate per share			6.236%
Par value per share							$ 0.01
Initial offering price per depository share							1,000.00
Redemption price per share							$ 1,000.00
Aggregate redemption price							$ 50,000
Dividend per depositary share		$ 11.3299
Total dividends, depositary shares		$ 566
Cost associated with the redemptions					949
Series G Preferred Stock/Units
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Depositary shares issued							25,000
Depositary share percentage per share							1.00%
Dividend rate per share			7.236%
Par value per share							$ 0.01
Initial offering price per depository share							1,000.00
Redemption price per share							$ 1,000.00
Aggregate redemption price							$ 25,000
Dividend per depositary share		$ 36.18
Total dividends, depositary shares		$ 905
Cost associated with the redemptions					$ 513
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Units converted to common stock			266,332	68,930	222,676
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			$ 2,862	$ 673	$ 2,155
Shares of common stock issued			5,600,000
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock			$ 124,936
ATM
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares of company stock issuable under an at-the-market offering						13,300,000
Aggregate gross sale proceeds						$ 200,000
First Industrial, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cost associated with the redemptions			0	0	1,462
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units			0	0	0
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock			$ 124,936	$ 0	$ 0
First Industrial, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock/Units
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend rate per share			6.236%
First Industrial, L.P. | Series G Preferred Stock/Units
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend rate per share			7.236%