Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Real estate:
Land and land improvements	$ 1,094,470	$ 1,184,927
Building and improvements	4,501,921	5,131,648
Less accumulated depreciation	(940,115)	(1,148,928)
Operating real estate	4,656,276	5,167,647
Development in progress	267,450	360,948
Land held for development	336,569	336,967
Net real estate	5,260,295	5,865,562
Cash and cash equivalents	43,642	35,353
Restricted cash	12,383	9,018
Accounts receivable, net	13,994	14,343
Deferred rent receivable, net	109,245	118,787
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net	153,393	192,109
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	245,078	218,454
Assets held for sale	4,548	4,954
Prepaid expenses and other assets	150,235	99,049
Total assets	5,992,813	6,557,629
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans, net	276,650	307,908
Unsecured notes, net	2,280,286	2,580,108
Credit facility	0	259,000
Accounts payable	65,914	51,382
Accrued interest	21,878	26,154
Dividend and distributions payable	71,501	71,787
Other liabilities	206,124	223,499
Total liabilities	2,922,353	3,519,838
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares authorized; 146,993,018 and 147,577,984 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	147	148
Additional paid-in capital	3,655,910	3,669,627
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(56,031)	(22,506)
Distributions in excess of net income	(596,635)	(674,688)
Total Liberty Property Trust shareholders’ equity	3,003,391	2,972,581
Noncontrolling interest – operating partnership
3,530,031 and 3,539,075 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	54,631	53,754
Noncontrolling interest – consolidated joint ventures	4,901	3,919
Total equity	3,062,923	3,030,254
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	5,992,813	6,557,629
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate:
Land and land improvements	1,094,470	1,184,927
Building and improvements	4,501,921	5,131,648
Less accumulated depreciation	(940,115)	(1,148,928)
Operating real estate	4,656,276	5,167,647
Development in progress	267,450	360,948
Land held for development	336,569	336,967
Net real estate	5,260,295	5,865,562
Cash and cash equivalents	43,642	35,353
Restricted cash	12,383	9,018
Accounts receivable, net	13,994	14,343
Deferred rent receivable, net	109,245	118,787
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net	153,393	192,109
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	245,078	218,454
Assets held for sale	4,548	4,954
Prepaid expenses and other assets	150,235	99,049
Total assets	5,992,813	6,557,629
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans, net	276,650	307,908
Unsecured notes, net	2,280,286	2,580,108
Credit facility	0	259,000
Accounts payable	65,914	51,382
Accrued interest	21,878	26,154
Dividend and distributions payable	71,501	71,787
Other liabilities	206,124	223,499
Total liabilities	2,922,353	3,519,838
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
General partner’s equity - 146,993,018 and 147,577,984 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	3,003,391	2,972,581
Limited partners’ equity – 3,530,031 and 3,539,075 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	54,631	53,754
Noncontrolling interest – operating partnership
Noncontrolling interest – consolidated joint ventures	4,901	3,919
Total equity	3,062,923	3,030,254
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	$ 5,992,813	$ 6,557,629