Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Real Estate [Abstract]
Land and land improvements	$ 1,191,875	$ 1,182,366
Building and improvements	5,161,117	5,122,396
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,199,941)	(1,148,014)
Operating real estate	5,153,051	5,156,748
Development in progress	438,542	360,948
Land held for development	324,836	336,967
Net real estate	5,916,429	5,854,663
Cash and cash equivalents	29,340	35,353
Restricted cash	5,029	9,018
Accounts receivable	12,315	14,343
Deferred rent receivable	124,948	118,783
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (June 30, 2016, $175,870; December 31, 2015, $175,023)	178,980	191,987
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	222,679	218,454
Assets held for sale	2,915	15,979
Prepaid expenses and other assets	92,233	99,049
Total assets	6,584,868	6,557,629
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans	284,892	307,908
Unsecured notes	2,581,663	2,580,108
Credit facility	395,000	259,000
Accounts payable	67,585	51,382
Accrued interest	26,496	26,154
Dividend and distributions payable	71,363	71,787
Other liabilities	217,885	243,806
Total liabilities	3,644,884	3,540,145
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares authorized; 146,716,684 and 147,577,984 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	147	148
Additional paid-in capital	3,645,432	3,669,627
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(37,803)	(17,893)
Distributions in excess of net income	(730,959)	(698,954)
Total Liberty Property Trust shareholders' equity	2,876,817	2,952,928
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships	51,711	53,100
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	3,919	3,919
Total owners' equity	2,932,447	3,009,947
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	6,584,868	6,557,629
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Real Estate [Abstract]
Land and land improvements	1,191,875	1,182,366
Building and improvements	5,161,117	5,122,396
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,199,941)	(1,148,014)
Operating real estate	5,153,051	5,156,748
Development in progress	438,542	360,948
Land held for development	324,836	336,967
Net real estate	5,916,429	5,854,663
Cash and cash equivalents	29,340	35,353
Restricted cash	5,029	9,018
Accounts receivable	12,315	14,343
Deferred rent receivable	124,948	118,783
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (June 30, 2016, $175,870; December 31, 2015, $175,023)	178,980	191,987
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	222,679	218,454
Assets held for sale	2,915	15,979
Prepaid expenses and other assets	92,233	99,049
Total assets	6,584,868	6,557,629
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans	284,892	307,908
Unsecured notes	2,581,663	2,580,108
Credit facility	395,000	259,000
Accounts payable	67,585	51,382
Accrued interest	26,496	26,154
Dividend and distributions payable	71,363	71,787
Other liabilities	217,885	243,806
Total liabilities	3,644,884	3,540,145
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
General partner’s equity - 146,716,684 and 147,577,984 common units outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	2,876,817	2,952,928
Limited partners' equity	51,711	53,100
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	3,919	3,919
Total owners' equity	2,932,447	3,009,947
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	$ 6,584,868	$ 6,557,629