Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
OPERATING REVENUE
Rental	$ 584,165	$ 568,346	$ 458,081
Operating expense reimbursement	224,608	224,285	187,849
Operating revenue	808,773	792,631	645,930
OPERATING EXPENSE
Rental property	132,702	138,124	114,617
Real estate taxes	105,410	101,814	79,918
General and administrative	68,710	63,327	74,564
Depreciation and amortization	226,575	231,943	173,784
Impairment - real estate assets	18,244	117	248
Total operating expenses	551,641	535,325	443,131
Operating income	257,132	257,306	202,799
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and other income	22,863	17,669	18,803
Interest expense	(135,779)	(151,887)	(127,115)
Total other income (expense)	(112,916)	(134,218)	(108,312)
Income before gain on property dispositions, income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	144,216	123,088	94,487
Gain on property dispositions	100,314	45,147	0
Income taxes	(3,233)	(2,967)	(2,799)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	3,149	10,314	6,067
Income from continuing operations	244,446	175,582	97,755
Discontinued operations (including net gain on property dispositions of $46,631 and $95,384 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively)	0	48,581	121,839
Net income	244,446	224,163	219,594
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership	(6,158)	(5,706)	(9,203)
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	(249)	(547)	(653)
Excess of preferred unit redemption over carrying amount			(1,236)
Net income available to common shareholders	238,039	217,910	209,738
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
Net income	244,446	224,163	219,594
Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation	(11,433)	(14,415)	5,397
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivative instruments	(488)	(1,961)	1,584
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,921)	(16,376)	6,981
Total comprehensive income	232,525	207,787	226,575
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(6,127)	(5,870)	(9,995)
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders	$ 226,398	$ 201,917	$ 216,580
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	148,243	147,216	130,180
Diluted	148,843	147,886	130,909
Amounts attributable to common shareholders
Income from continuing operations	$ 238,039	$ 170,471	$ 91,274
Discontinued operations	0	47,439	118,464
Net income available to common shareholders	238,039	217,910	209,738
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
OPERATING REVENUE
Rental	584,165	568,346	458,081
Operating expense reimbursement	224,608	224,285	187,849
Operating revenue	808,773	792,631	645,930
OPERATING EXPENSE
Rental property	132,702	138,124	114,617
Real estate taxes	105,410	101,814	79,918
General and administrative	68,710	63,327	74,564
Depreciation and amortization	226,575	231,943	173,784
Impairment - real estate assets	18,244	117	248
Total operating expenses	551,641	535,325	443,131
Operating income	257,132	257,306	202,799
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and other income	22,863	17,669	18,803
Interest expense	(135,779)	(151,887)	(127,115)
Total other income (expense)	(112,916)	(134,218)	(108,312)
Income before gain on property dispositions, income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	144,216	123,088	94,487
Gain on property dispositions	100,314	45,147	0
Income taxes	(3,233)	(2,967)	(2,799)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	3,149	10,314	6,067
Income from continuing operations	244,446	175,582	97,755
Discontinued operations (including net gain on property dispositions of $46,631 and $95,384 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively)	0	48,581	121,839
Net income	244,446	224,163	219,594
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	(249)	(547)	(653)
Preferred unit distributions	(472)	(472)	(2,119)
Excess of preferred unit redemption over carrying amount	0	0	(1,236)
Net income available to common shareholders	243,725	223,144	215,586
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
Net income	244,446	224,163	219,594
Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation	(11,433)	(14,415)	5,397
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivative instruments	(488)	(1,961)	1,584
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,921)	(16,376)	6,981
Total comprehensive income	$ 232,525	$ 207,787	$ 226,575
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	151,783	150,770	133,858
Diluted	152,383	151,440	134,587
Net Income Allocated to General Partners	$ 238,039	$ 217,910	$ 209,738
Net Income Allocated to Limited Partners	6,158	5,706	9,203
Amounts attributable to common shareholders
Income from continuing operations	244,197	175,035	97,102
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 243,725	$ 223,144	$ 215,586
Common shares [Member]
Basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.61	$ 1.16	$ 0.70
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.32	0.91
Income per common share - basic	1.61	1.48	1.61
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations	1.60	1.15	0.70
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.32	0.90
Income per common share - diluted	1.60	1.47	1.60
Common units [Member] | Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Basic:
Income from continuing operations	1.61	1.16	0.70
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.32	0.91
Income per common share - basic	1.61	1.48	1.61
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations	1.60	1.15	0.70
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.32	0.90
Income per common share - diluted	$ 1.60	$ 1.47	$ 1.60