Income per Common Unit of the Operating Partnership (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Income Per Common Unit [Line Items]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	For the Three Months Ended					For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2012					March 31, 2011
	Income (Numerator)		Weighted Average Shares (Denominator)	Per Share		Income (Numerator)		Weighted Average Shares (Denominator)	Per Share
Basic income from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations net of noncontrolling interest	$	33,301	115,972	$	0.29	$	24,820	114,013	$	0.21
Dilutive shares for long-term compensation plans	—		771			—		753
Diluted income from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations net of noncontrolling interest	33,301		116,743	$	0.29	24,820		114,766	$	0.21
Basic income from discontinued operations
Discontinued operations net of noncontrolling interest	3,788		115,972	$	0.03	4,089		114,013	$	0.04
Dilutive shares for long-term compensation plans	—		771			—		753
Diluted income from discontinued operations
Discontinued operations net of noncontrolling interest	3,788		116,743	$	0.03	4,089		114,766	$	0.04
Basic income per common share
Net income available to common shareholders	37,089		115,972	$	0.32	28,909		114,013	$	0.25
Dilutive shares for long-term compensation plans	—		771			—		753
Diluted income per common share
Net income available to common shareholders	$	37,089	116,743	$	0.32	$	28,909	114,766	$	0.25

Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]

Income Per Common Unit [Line Items]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	For the Three Months Ended						For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2012						March 31, 2011
	Income (Numerator)			Weighted Average Units (Denominator)	Per Unit		Income (Numerator)			Weighted Average Units (Denominator)	Per Unit
Income from continuing operations net of noncontrolling interest	$	35,691					$	30,915
Less: Preferred unit distributions	(5,035		)				(5,253		)
Excess of preferred unit carrying amount over redemption	3,729						—
Basic income from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders	34,385			119,781	$	0.29	25,662			117,942	$	0.21
Dilutive units for long-term compensation plans	—			771			—			753
Diluted income from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders	34,385			120,552	$	0.29	25,662			118,695	$	0.21
Basic income from discontinued operations
Discontinued operations	3,911			119,781	$	0.03	4,229			117,942	$	0.04
Dilutive units for long-term compensation plans	—			771			—			753
Diluted income from discontinued operations
Discontinued operations	3,911			120,552	$	0.03	4,229			118,695	$	0.04
Basic income per common unit
Income available to common unitholders	38,296			119,781	$	0.32	29,891			117,942	$	0.25
Diluted units for long-term compensation plans	—			771			—			753
Diluted income per common unit
Income available to common unitholders	$	38,296		120,552	$	0.32	$	29,891		118,695	$	0.25