Earnings Per Share / Unit (EPS / EPU) - Computation of Basic and Diluted EPS / EPU (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Numerator:
Income from Continuing Operations									$ 125,684	$ 76,705	$ 23,182
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Continuing Operations									(4,452)	(2,903)	(813)
Income from Continuing Operations Allocable to Participating Securities									(411)	(248)	(75)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders / Unitholders									120,821	73,554	22,294
Preferred Dividends/Unit Distributions									0	0	(1,019)
Redemption of Preferred Stock/Units									0	0	(1,462)
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									120,821	73,554	19,813
Income from Discontinued Operations									0	0	27,823
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Discontinued Operations									0	0	(1,082)
Income from Discontinued Operations Allocable to Participating Securities									0	0	(100)
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders / Unitholders									0	0	26,641
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders and Participating Securities	$ 23,796	$ 31,519	$ 50,229	$ 15,688	$ 43,500	$ 13,917	$ 14,012	$ 2,373	121,232	73,802	46,629
Net Income Allocable to Participating Securities	(82)	(110)	(180)	(63)	(153)	(50)	(50)	(41)	(411)	(248)	(175)
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders/Unitholders	$ 23,714	$ 31,409	$ 50,049	$ 15,625	$ 43,347	$ 13,867	$ 13,962	$ 2,332	$ 120,821	$ 73,554	$ 46,454
Denominator:
Weighted Average Shares/Units - Basic	116,636	116,467	116,191	110,793	110,392	110,356	110,348	110,310	115,030	110,352	109,922
LTIP Unit Awards (As Defined in Note 11)									340	429	403
Weighted Average Shares/Units - Diluted	117,042	116,864	116,558	110,985	110,916	110,848	110,683	110,675	115,370	110,781	110,325
Basic Earnings Per Share/Unit:
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									$ 1.05	$ 0.67	$ 0.18
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									0.00	0.00	0.24
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.43	$ 0.14	$ 0.39	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.02	1.05	0.67	0.42
Diluted Earnings Per Share/Unit:
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									1.05	0.66	0.18
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									0.00	0.00	0.24
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.43	$ 0.14	$ 0.39	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.02	$ 1.05	$ 0.66	$ 0.42
First Industrial, L.P.
Numerator:
Income from Continuing Operations									$ 125,684	$ 76,820	$ 23,434
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Continuing Operations									(137)	(138)	(62)
Income from Continuing Operations Allocable to Participating Securities									(410)	(248)	(75)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders / Unitholders									125,137	76,434	23,297
Preferred Dividends/Unit Distributions									0	0	(1,019)
Redemption of Preferred Stock/Units									0	0	(1,462)
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									125,137	76,434	20,816
Income from Discontinued Operations									0	0	27,823
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Discontinued Operations									0	0	(10)
Income from Discontinued Operations Allocable to Participating Securities									0	0	(100)
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders / Unitholders									0	0	27,713
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders and Participating Securities	$ 24,588	$ 32,630	$ 52,048	$ 16,281	$ 45,143	$ 14,438	$ 14,644	$ 2,457	125,547	76,682	48,704
Net Income Allocable to Participating Securities	(83)	(110)	(180)	(63)	(153)	(50)	(50)	(41)	(410)	(248)	(175)
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders/Unitholders	$ 24,505	$ 32,520	$ 51,868	$ 16,218	$ 44,990	$ 14,388	$ 14,594	$ 2,416	$ 125,137	$ 76,434	$ 48,529
Denominator:
Weighted Average Shares/Units - Basic	120,740	120,740	120,486	115,096	114,722	114,720	114,712	114,681	119,274	114,709	114,388
LTIP Unit Awards (As Defined in Note 11)									340	429	403
Weighted Average Shares/Units - Diluted	121,146	121,137	120,853	115,288	115,246	115,212	115,047	115,046	119,614	115,138	114,791
Basic Earnings Per Share/Unit:
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									$ 1.05	$ 0.67	$ 0.18
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									0.00	0.00	0.24
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.43	$ 0.14	$ 0.39	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.02	1.05	0.67	0.42
Diluted Earnings Per Share/Unit:
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									1.05	0.66	0.18
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders/Unitholders									0.00	0.00	0.24
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders/Unitholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.43	$ 0.14	$ 0.39	$ 0.12	$ 0.13	$ 0.02	$ 1.05	$ 0.66	$ 0.42