Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 24, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST
Entity Central Index Key	0000921112
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		146,992,276
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 5.7
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0000921113