CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ PARTNER'S CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Noncontrolling Interest	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest	First Industrial, L.P.	First Industrial, L.P. General Partner Units	First Industrial, L.P. Limited Partner Units	First Industrial, L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	First Industrial, L.P. Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,090,827	$ (13,867)	$ 41,877	$ 1,106	$ 1,751,059	$ (689,348)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014								$ 1,101,590	$ 1,034,129	$ 80,757	$ (14,376)	$ 1,080
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,243			4	4,656	(2,417)
Stock Based Compensation Activity								2,243	2,243
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(673)	1	672		$ (673)	0	673	(673)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(28)		28
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(59,014)		(2,218)			(56,796)
Unit Distributions								(59,014)	(56,796)	(2,218)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest								67				67
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest								(189)				(189)
Net Income	76,705		2,903			73,802		76,820	73,779	2,903		138
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0	(8)	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	4,374	4,208	166					4,333			4,333
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	1,115,135	(9,667)	42,035	1,111	1,756,415	(674,759)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015								1,125,850	1,054,028	80,769	(10,043)	1,096
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Common Stock / Contribution of General Partner Units, Net of Issuance Costs	124,584			56	124,528			124,584	124,584
Stock Based Compensation Activity	5,301			2	5,516	(217)
Stock Based Compensation Activity								5,301	5,301
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(2,862)	3	2,859		(2,862)	0	2,862	(2,862)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		2,547		(2,547)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(91,318)		(3,203)			(88,115)
Unit Distributions								(91,318)	(88,115)	(3,203)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest								123				123
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest								(400)				(400)
Net Income	125,684		4,452			121,232		125,684	121,095	4,452		137
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0	(29)	29
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	5,239	5,053	186					5,239			5,239
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,284,625	(4,643)	43,184	1,172	1,886,771	(641,859)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016								1,295,063	1,219,755	79,156	(4,804)	956
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Common Stock / Contribution of General Partner Units, Net of Issuance Costs	74,661			25	74,636			74,661	74,661
Stock Based Compensation Activity	6,210			2	6,932	(724)
Stock Based Compensation Activity								6,210	6,210
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(364)	0	364		$ (364)	0	364	(364)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		1,593		(1,593)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(104,106)		(3,386)			(100,720)
Unit Distributions								(104,106)	(100,720)	(3,386)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest								40				40
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest								(360)				(360)
Net Income	208,301		6,845			201,456		208,301	201,313	6,845		143
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0	(408)	408
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6,186	6,389	(203)					6,186			6,186
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,475,877	$ 1,338	$ 48,077	$ 1,199	$ 1,967,110	$ (541,847)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017								$ 1,485,995	$ 1,401,583	$ 82,251	$ 1,382	$ 779