Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 246,455,000	$ 196,549,000	$ (75,868,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	290,279,000	288,583,000	262,825,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	94,338,000	120,467,000	116,594,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,786,000	12,968,000	13,321,000
Straight line rent adjustments, net	19,965,000	14,633,000	19,546,000
Impairment charges	49,106,000	3,777,000	0
(Gain) loss on debt extinguishment	283,000	9,433,000	0
(Gain) loss on acquisitions	0	(962,000)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(195,920,000)	(201,968,000)	(13,811,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(17,231,000)	31,920,000	(10,837,000)
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	47,718,000	21,706,000	13,300,000
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(60,362,000)	(32,164,000)	13,179,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	444,487,000	435,676,000	299,157,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(446,722,000)	(427,355,000)	(264,755,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(125,227,000)	(445,514,000)	(665,527,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(68,156,000)	(76,655,000)	(64,944,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(98,821,000)	(91,798,000)	(63,884,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(31,503,000)	(35,376,000)	(27,772,000)
Other assets	(9,996,000)	(30,161,000)	4,504,000
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	493,217,000	740,039,000	138,118,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	91,750,000	109,158,000	5,157,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(11,573,000)	(61,720,000)	(28,513,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(207,031,000)	(319,382,000)	(967,616,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	289,122,000	649,690,000	315,295,000
Payments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(446,592,000)	(177,955,000)	(168,272,000)
Proceeds from unsecured debt	300,000,000	750,000,000	600,000,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(2,092,000)	(685,022,000)	(222,846,000)
Proceeds from secured debt financings	0	1,933,000	13,336,000
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(112,877,000)	(169,188,000)	(117,287,000)
Borrowings (payments) on lines of credit, net	18,000,000	(197,000,000)	264,707,000
Distributions to common shareholders	(228,227,000)	(220,297,000)	(181,892,000)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(27,395,000)	(31,616,000)	(46,438,000)
Contributions from (Distributions to) noncontrolling interest, net	(2,791,000)	(8,944,000)	2,179,000
Buyout of noncontrolling interests	(7,803,000)	0	(6,208,000)
Change in book overdrafts	(4,696,000)	(32,823,000)	45,272,000
Deferred financing costs	(13,458,000)	(9,686,000)	(9,307,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(238,809,000)	(130,908,000)	488,539,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,353,000)	(14,614,000)	(179,920,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	19,275,000	33,889,000	213,809,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	17,922,000	19,275,000	33,889,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assumption of indebtedness and other liabilities in real estate acquisitions	355,000	107,992,000	112,754,000
Carrying amount of pre-existing ownership interest in acquired property	0	3,968,000	0
Contribution of properties to, net of debt assumed by, unconsolidated companies	0	2,426,000	0
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	6,741,000	331,000	29,213,000
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	246,455,000	196,549,000	(75,868,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	290,279,000	288,583,000	262,825,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	94,338,000	120,467,000	116,594,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,786,000	12,968,000	13,321,000
Straight line rent adjustments, net	19,965,000	14,633,000	19,546,000
Impairment charges	49,106,000	3,777,000	0
(Gain) loss on debt extinguishment	283,000	9,433,000	0
(Gain) loss on acquisitions	0	(962,000)	0
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(195,920,000)	(201,968,000)	(13,811,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(17,231,000)	31,920,000	(10,837,000)
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	47,654,000	21,783,000	13,399,000
Operating distributions received in excess of (less than) equity in earnings from unconsolidated companies	(60,362,000)	(32,164,000)	13,179,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	444,423,000	435,753,000	299,256,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(446,722,000)	(427,355,000)	(264,755,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(125,227,000)	(445,514,000)	(665,527,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(68,156,000)	(76,655,000)	(64,944,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(98,821,000)	(91,798,000)	(63,884,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(31,503,000)	(35,376,000)	(27,772,000)
Other assets	(9,996,000)	(30,161,000)	4,504,000
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	493,217,000	740,039,000	138,118,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated companies	91,750,000	109,158,000	5,157,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated companies	(11,573,000)	(61,720,000)	(28,513,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(207,031,000)	(319,382,000)	(967,616,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	289,122,000	649,690,000	315,295,000
Payments for redemption/repurchase of preferred shares	(446,592,000)	(177,955,000)	(168,272,000)
Proceeds from unsecured debt	300,000,000	750,000,000	600,000,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(2,092,000)	(685,022,000)	(222,846,000)
Proceeds from secured debt financings	0	1,933,000	13,336,000
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(112,877,000)	(169,188,000)	(117,287,000)
Borrowings (payments) on lines of credit, net	18,000,000	(197,000,000)	264,707,000
Distributions to common shareholders	(231,112,000)	(223,362,000)	(185,299,000)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(27,395,000)	(31,616,000)	(46,438,000)
Contributions from (Distributions to) noncontrolling interest, net	158,000	(5,956,000)	5,470,000
Buyout of noncontrolling interests	(7,803,000)	0	(6,208,000)
Change in book overdrafts	(4,696,000)	(32,823,000)	45,272,000
Deferred financing costs	(13,458,000)	(9,686,000)	(9,307,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(238,745,000)	(130,985,000)	488,423,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,353,000)	(14,614,000)	(179,937,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	19,275,000	33,889,000	213,826,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	17,922,000	19,275,000	33,889,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assumption of indebtedness and other liabilities in real estate acquisitions	355,000	107,992,000	112,754,000
Carrying amount of pre-existing ownership interest in acquired property	0	3,968,000	0
Contribution of properties to, net of debt assumed by, unconsolidated companies	0	2,426,000	0
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ 6,741,000	$ 331,000	$ 29,213,000