Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 597,342	$ 233,655
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	192,135	216,963
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	51,517	73,942
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,543	7,423
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(18,498)	(16,419)
Asset Impairment Charges	7,896	8,891
Loss on debt transactions	82,589	139
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(644,044)	(163,689)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(3,805)	(4,397)
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	7,129	17,920
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	414	(53,429)
Net cash provided by operating activities	278,218	320,999
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(221,201)	(385,088)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(28,849)	(94,032)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(39,881)	(37,579)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(45,688)	(69,475)
Other deferred leasing costs	(26,940)	(24,948)
Other assets	(38,104)	514
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	1,534,177	386,215
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	68,915	70,054
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(55,020)	(5,874)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	1,147,409	(160,213)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	4,592	255,962
Payments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares/units	0	(113,797)
Payments on unsecured debt	(759,948)	(1,556)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(221,085)	(93,036)
Borrowings (repayments) on line of credit, net	(106,000)	52,000
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(175,967)	(169,917)
Distributions to preferred shareholders/unitholders	0	(20,789)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	(1,403)	(2,044)
Buyout of noncontrolling interests	0	(7,803)
Change in book overdrafts	(7,754)	(12,450)
Deferred financing costs	(110)	(499)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,267,675)	(113,929)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	157,952	46,857
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	17,922	19,275
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	175,874	66,132
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Assumption of indebtedness and other liabilities in real estate acquisitions	0	54
Mortgages note receivable from buyers in property sales	204,428	0
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	2,416	56
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	597,342	233,655
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	192,135	216,963
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	51,517	73,942
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,543	7,423
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(18,498)	(16,419)
Asset Impairment Charges	7,896	8,891
Loss on debt transactions	82,589	139
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(644,044)	(163,689)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(3,805)	(4,397)
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	6,949	17,920
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	414	(53,429)
Net cash provided by operating activities	278,038	320,999
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(221,201)	(385,088)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(28,849)	(94,032)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(39,881)	(37,579)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(45,688)	(69,475)
Other deferred leasing costs	(26,940)	(24,948)
Other assets	(38,104)	514
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	1,534,177	386,215
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	68,915	70,054
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(55,020)	(5,874)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	1,147,409	(160,213)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	4,772	255,962
Payments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares/units	0	(113,797)
Payments on unsecured debt	(759,948)	(1,556)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(221,085)	(93,036)
Borrowings (repayments) on line of credit, net	(106,000)	52,000
Distributions to common shareholders/unitholders	(177,815)	(172,153)
Distributions to preferred shareholders/unitholders	0	(20,789)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest, Net	445	192
Buyout of noncontrolling interests	0	(7,803)
Change in book overdrafts	(7,754)	(12,450)
Deferred financing costs	(110)	(499)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,267,495)	(113,929)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	157,952	46,857
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	17,922	19,275
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	175,874	66,132
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Assumption of indebtedness and other liabilities in real estate acquisitions	0	54
Mortgages note receivable from buyers in property sales	204,428	0
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 2,416	$ 56