Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets [Abstract]
Land and improvements	$ 1,534,521us-gaap_LandAndLandImprovements	$ 1,438,007us-gaap_LandAndLandImprovements
Buildings and tenant Improvements	5,696,931	5,531,726
Construction in Progress	248,993us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross	256,895us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated companies	293,650	342,947
Undeveloped land	499,960us-gaap_LandAvailableForDevelopment	590,052us-gaap_LandAvailableForDevelopment
Real estate investment property, at cost, total	8,274,055	8,159,627
Accumulated depreciation	(1,481,125)	(1,368,406)
Net real estate investments	6,792,930us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet	6,791,221us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet
Real estate investments and other assets held-for-sale	71,525us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale	57,466us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Cash and cash equivalents	17,922	19,275
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	26,906us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet	26,173us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
Straight-line rent receivable, net of allowance	130,654us-gaap_DeferredRentReceivablesNet	118,251us-gaap_DeferredRentReceivablesNet
Receivables on construction contracts, including retentions	36,304dre_ReceivablesOnConstructionContracts	19,209dre_ReceivablesOnConstructionContracts
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	38,734us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet	36,250us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Deferred Leasing and other costs, net of accumulated amortization	428,314dre_LeaseRelatedAssets	466,979dre_LeaseRelatedAssets
Escrow deposits and other assets	211,550us-gaap_OtherAssets	217,790us-gaap_OtherAssets
Total Assets	7,754,839us-gaap_Assets	7,752,614us-gaap_Assets
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Secured Debt	983,242us-gaap_SecuredDebt	1,100,124us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Unsecured debt	3,364,161us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt	3,066,252us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt
Unsecured line of credit	106,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit	88,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Long-term debt, total	4,453,403us-gaap_LongTermDebt	4,254,376us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Liabilities related to real estate investments held-for-sale	1,003us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSale	2,075us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfAssetsHeldForSale
Construction payables and amounts due subcontractors, including retentions	72,839	69,380
Accrued real estate taxes	78,092	74,696
Accrued interest	56,157	52,824
Other accrued expenses	64,646	67,495
Other Liabilities	96,866us-gaap_OtherLiabilities	142,589us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
Tenant Security Deposits and prepaid rents	51,953dre_AdvanceRentsAndSecurityDeposits	44,550dre_AdvanceRentsAndSecurityDeposits
Total Liabilities	4,874,959us-gaap_Liabilities	4,707,985us-gaap_Liabilities
Equity:
Preferred Shares	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue	447,683us-gaap_PreferredStockValue
Common shares	3,441us-gaap_CommonStockValue	3,264us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid in capital	4,944,800us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	4,620,964us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,026	4,119
Distributions in excess of net income	(2,090,942)	(2,062,787)
Total stockholders' equity	2,860,325us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	3,013,243us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Noncontrolling interests	19,555us-gaap_MinorityInterest	31,386us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Total Equity	2,879,880	3,044,629
Total Liabilities and Equity	7,754,839	7,752,614
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Land and improvements	1,534,521	1,438,007
Buildings and tenant Improvements	5,696,931	5,531,726
Construction in Progress	248,993	256,895
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated companies	293,650	342,947
Undeveloped land	499,960	590,052
Real estate investment property, at cost, total	8,274,055	8,159,627
Accumulated depreciation	(1,481,125)	(1,368,406)
Net real estate investments	6,792,930	6,791,221
Real estate investments and other assets held-for-sale	71,525	57,466
Cash and cash equivalents	17,922	19,275
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	26,906	26,173
Straight-line rent receivable, net of allowance	130,654	118,251
Receivables on construction contracts, including retentions	36,304	19,209
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	38,734	36,250
Deferred Leasing and other costs, net of accumulated amortization	428,314	466,979
Escrow deposits and other assets	211,550	217,790
Total Assets	7,754,839	7,752,614
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Secured Debt	983,242	1,100,124
Unsecured debt	3,364,161	3,066,252
Unsecured line of credit	106,000	88,000
Long-term debt, total	4,453,403	4,254,376
Liabilities related to real estate investments held-for-sale	1,003	2,075
Construction payables and amounts due subcontractors, including retentions	72,839	69,380
Accrued real estate taxes	78,092	74,696
Accrued interest	56,157	52,824
Other accrued expenses	64,826	67,739
Other Liabilities	96,866	142,589
Tenant Security Deposits and prepaid rents	51,953	44,550
Total Liabilities	4,875,139	4,708,229
Equity:
Common equity	2,857,119	2,565,370
Preferred equity	0	447,683
General Partners' equity	2,857,119	3,013,053
Limited Partners' common equity	17,289	20,158
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,026	4,119
Total partners' equity	2,877,434	3,037,330
Noncontrolling interest	2,266	7,055
Total Equity	2,879,700	3,044,385
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 7,754,839	$ 7,752,614

This element represents the carrying value of advance rents and security deposits received from tenants. Advance rents are the amounts at the balance sheet date that have been received and represent rents paid in advance. Security deposits represent money paid in advance to protect the provider of a product or service, such as a lessor, against damage or nonpayment by the buyer or tenant (lessee) during the term of the agreement. Such damages may include physical damage to the property, and other contractual breaches.

No definition available.