Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) - Net Income Available and 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
Total Revenues	$ 97,976	$ 93,562	$ 93,015	$ 93,467	$ 93,209	$ 92,159	$ 90,489	$ 89,966	$ 378,020	$ 365,823	$ 346,709
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
Basic Earnings Per Share/Unit:
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:
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
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
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
First Industrial, L.P.
Total Revenues	$ 97,976	$ 93,562	$ 93,015	$ 93,467	$ 93,209	$ 92,159	$ 90,489	$ 89,966	$ 378,020	$ 365,823	$ 346,709
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
Basic Earnings Per Share/Unit:
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:
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
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
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