Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 387,268,000	$ 1,654,341,000	$ 315,278,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	256,250,000	242,606,000	255,419,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	55,967,000	56,866,000	62,399,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,867,000	5,402,000	5,327,000
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(24,605,000)	(16,051,000)	(13,743,000)
Impairment charges	0	4,481,000	18,018,000
Loss on debt extinguishment	388,000	26,104,000	33,934,000
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(30,697,000)
Gain on acquisitions	0	0	(7,272,000)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(219,114,000)	(1,480,691,000)	(172,974,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(15,400,000)	1,000,000	5,273,000
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	47,711,000	3,104,000	16,682,000
Equity in earnings in excess of operating distributions received from unconsolidated joint ventures	(9,925,000)	(46,958,000)	(30,627,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	484,407,000	450,204,000	457,017,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(577,383,000)	(549,563,000)	(401,942,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(348,107,000)	(982,598,000)	(170,635,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(244,262,000)	(243,846,000)	(99,168,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(53,474,000)	(52,554,000)	(59,349,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(39,380,000)	(30,208,000)	(38,410,000)
Other assets	(14,535,000)	(6,960,000)	(11,854,000)
Proceeds from the repayments of notes receivable from property sales	154,107,000	3,650,000	204,428,000
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	511,391,000	2,523,358,000	538,892,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	23,133,000	124,956,000	126,051,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,920,000)	(10,323,000)	(57,914,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(594,430,000)	775,912,000	30,099,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	34,913,000	13,383,000	220,258,000
Proceeds from unsecured debt	450,000,000	300,000,000	375,000,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(7,190,000)	(692,137,000)	(440,040,000)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(232,234,000)	(72,648,000)	(354,832,000)
Borrowing (repayments) on line of credit, net	30,000,000	(48,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - regular	(291,502,000)	(273,999,000)	(255,279,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - special	0	(302,833,000)	0
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	(2,456,000)	(11,882,000)	(2,640,000)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(8,459,000)	(14,946,000)	(7,103,000)
Change in book overdrafts	(22,088,000)	22,924,000	2,324,000
Deferred financing costs	(9,071,000)	(8,931,000)	(6,724,000)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	0	(457,000)	0
Net cash used for financing activities	(58,087,000)	(1,089,526,000)	(492,036,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(168,110,000)	136,590,000	(4,920,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	(193,627,000)	(57,037,000)	(61,957,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	25,517,000	193,627,000	57,037,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Carrying amount of pre-existing ownership interest in acquired property	5,034,000	0	0
Non-cash property contribution from noncontrolling interests	3,200,000	0	0
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	0	404,846,000	23,360,000
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	(269,000)	1,847,000	967,000
Duke Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	387,268,000	1,654,341,000	315,278,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of buildings and tenant improvements	256,250,000	242,606,000	255,419,000
Amortization of deferred leasing and other costs	55,967,000	56,866,000	62,399,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	5,867,000	5,402,000	5,327,000
Straight-line rental income and expense, net	(24,605,000)	(16,051,000)	(13,743,000)
Impairment charges	0	4,481,000	18,018,000
Loss on debt extinguishment	388,000	26,104,000	33,934,000
Gain on dissolution of unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(30,697,000)
Gain on acquisitions	0	0	(7,272,000)
Gains on land and depreciated property sales	(219,114,000)	(1,480,691,000)	(172,974,000)
Third-party construction contracts, net	(15,400,000)	1,000,000	5,273,000
Other accrued revenues and expenses, net	47,711,000	3,104,000	16,682,000
Equity in earnings in excess of operating distributions received from unconsolidated joint ventures	(9,925,000)	(46,958,000)	(30,627,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	484,407,000	450,204,000	457,017,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development of real estate investments	(577,383,000)	(549,563,000)	(401,942,000)
Acquisition of real estate investments and related intangible assets	(348,107,000)	(982,598,000)	(170,635,000)
Acquisition of undeveloped land	(244,262,000)	(243,846,000)	(99,168,000)
Second generation tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements	(53,474,000)	(52,554,000)	(59,349,000)
Other deferred leasing costs	(39,380,000)	(30,208,000)	(38,410,000)
Other assets	(14,535,000)	(6,960,000)	(11,854,000)
Proceeds from the repayments of notes receivable from property sales	154,107,000	3,650,000	204,428,000
Proceeds from land and depreciated property sales, net	511,391,000	2,523,358,000	538,892,000
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	23,133,000	124,956,000	126,051,000
Capital contributions and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,920,000)	(10,323,000)	(57,914,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	(594,430,000)	775,912,000	30,099,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from the General Partner	34,913,000	13,383,000	220,258,000
Proceeds from unsecured debt	450,000,000	300,000,000	375,000,000
Payments on unsecured debt	(7,190,000)	(692,137,000)	(440,040,000)
Payments on secured indebtedness including principal amortization	(232,234,000)	(72,648,000)	(354,832,000)
Borrowing (repayments) on line of credit, net	30,000,000	(48,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - regular	(294,233,000)	(276,539,000)	(257,820,000)
Distributions to common shareholders - special	0	(305,628,000)	0
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	275,000	(6,547,000)	(99,000)
Tax payments on stock-based compensation awards	(8,459,000)	(14,946,000)	(7,103,000)
Change in book overdrafts	(22,088,000)	22,924,000	2,324,000
Deferred financing costs	(9,071,000)	(8,931,000)	(6,724,000)
Redemption of Limited Partner Units	0	(457,000)
Net cash used for financing activities	(58,087,000)	(1,089,526,000)	(492,036,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(168,110,000)	136,590,000	(4,920,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	(193,627,000)	(57,037,000)	(61,957,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	25,517,000	193,627,000	57,037,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Carrying amount of pre-existing ownership interest in acquired property	5,034,000	0	0
Non-cash property contribution from noncontrolling interests	3,200,000	0	0
Notes receivable from buyers in property sales	0	404,846,000	23,360,000
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to common shares	$ (269,000)	$ 1,847,000	$ 967,000