<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2007-01-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000783280</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DUKE REALTY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024244</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUTTON GEOFFREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MILL HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CHICKSGROVE, SALISBURY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILTSHIRE,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SP3 6LY</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66897</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Between October 3, 2006 and January 5, 2007, the Reporting Person acquired 593 additional shares of DRE common stock through dividend reinvestment, not originally reported on 01/05/07.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tracy D. Swearingen for Geoffrey Button per previously filed POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
