Related Party Transactions - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 09, 2015 USD ($) ft²	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of acquisition fees			2.50%
Percent reimbursed			0.50%
Percentage of purchase price of properties			0.60%
Percentage of contract purchase price			6.00%
Disposition fee, percent of contract sales price			3.00%
Disposition fee, percent of competitive commission			50.00%
Disposition fee, percent of aggregate contract sales price			6.00%
Asset management fee percentage of average invested assets			0.75%
Average invested assets percentage			2.00%
Sales revenue goods percentage			25.00%
Operating expenses			$ 27,544
Property management fees percentage			3.00%
Gross revenue percentage			1.00%
Construction management fee percentage			5.00%
Receivable with Affiliated Tenant-in-common or LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Mortgage receivable	$ 26,000
Building size (in square feet) | ft²	127,246
Mortgage receivable, interest rate	8.00%
Interest income recognized on mortgage receivable			$ 1,200
Reimbursement, Services Provided That Are not Entitled to Advisor Fees | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating expenses		$ 100	200
Reimbursement, Reimbursable Expenses | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating expenses		$ 100	$ 200
Compensation, Subordinated Share of Net Sale Proceeds | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, minimum required cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, percentage			6.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			5.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			10.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			15.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Share of Net Sale Proceeds | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Minimum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			6.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			8.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Share of Net Sale Proceeds | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Maximum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			8.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Incentive Listing Distribution | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, minimum required cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, percentage			6.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			5.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			10.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			15.00%
Compensation payable, number of trading days			30 days
Compensation, Subordinated Incentive Listing Distribution | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Minimum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			6.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			8.00%
Compensation payable, distribution period			7 months
Compensation payable, 30 day commencement period			6 months
Compensation, Subordinated Incentive Listing Distribution | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Maximum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			8.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Compensation payable, distribution period			19 months
Compensation payable, 30 day commencement period			18 months
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Termination | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, minimum required cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, percentage			6.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			5.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			10.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			15.00%
Compensation payable, percent owed within first 30 days			33.33%
Compensation payable, termination date range one			30 days
Compensation payable, percent owed at one year anniversary			33.33%
Compensation payable, termination date range two			1 year
Compensation payable, percent owed at two year anniversary			33.33%
Compensation payable, termination date range three			2 years
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Termination | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Minimum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			6.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			8.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Termination | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Maximum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			8.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Extraordinary Transaction | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, minimum required cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, percentage			6.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			5.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			10.00%
Compensation rate, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range three, percentage			15.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Extraordinary Transaction | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Minimum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			6.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			8.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Extraordinary Transaction | Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor, LLC | Maximum | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range one, percentage			8.00%
Determination of compensation, cumulative, non-compounded return to shareholders, range two, percentage			10.00%
Compensation, Subordinated Distribution Due Upon Extraordinary Transaction | Griffin Capital Corporation | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Excess merger consideration, trading restriction on stock from date of receipt			1 year