CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ PARTNER'S CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	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, 2015	$ 1,115,135	$ 1,111	$ 1,756,415	$ (674,759)	$ (9,667)	$ 42,035
Beginning 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]
Net Income	125,684			121,232		4,452	125,684	121,095	4,452		137
Other Comprehensive Income	5,239				5,053	186	5,239			5,239
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)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(91,318)			(88,115)		(3,203)
Unit Distributions							(91,318)	(88,115)	(3,203)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	3	2,859			(2,862)	0	2,862	(2,862)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(2,547)			2,547
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							123				123
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(400)				(400)
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				(29)	29
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,284,625	1,172	1,886,771	(641,859)	(4,643)	43,184
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]
Net Income	208,301			201,456		6,845	208,301	201,313	6,845		143
Other Comprehensive Income	6,186				6,389	(203)	6,186			6,186
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)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(104,106)			(100,720)		(3,386)
Unit Distributions							(104,106)	(100,720)	(3,386)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	0	364			(364)	0	364	(364)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(1,593)			1,593
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							40				40
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(360)				(360)
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				(408)	408
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,475,877	1,199	1,967,110	(541,847)	1,338	48,077
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017							1,485,995	1,401,583	82,251	1,382	779
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	167,334			163,239		4,095	167,334	163,151	4,095		88
Other Comprehensive Income	2,192				2,138	54	2,192			2,192
Issuance of Common Stock / Contribution of General Partner Units, Net of Issuance Costs	145,408	48	145,360				145,408	145,408
Stock Based Compensation Activity	1,512	3	4,791	(3,282)
Stock Based Compensation Activity							1,512	(1,512)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(111,478)			(108,917)		(2,561)
Unit Distributions							(111,478)	(108,917)	(2,561)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	13	16,592			(16,605)	0	16,605	(16,605)
Retirement of Limited Partner Units	(934)					(934)	(934)		(934)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(2,297)			2,297
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							126				126
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(136)				(136)
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				26	(26)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,679,911	$ 1,263	$ 2,131,556	$ (490,807)	$ 3,502	$ 34,397
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018							$ 1,690,019	$ 1,619,342	$ 66,246	$ 3,574	$ 857