Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total		Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]		Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] Noncontrolling Interest-Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member]		Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] General Partner [Member]		Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partner [Member]		Common shares [Member]	Common units [Member] Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] General Partner [Member]	Common units [Member] Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] Limited Partner [Member]	Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest [Member]		Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]		Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]		Total Liberty Property Trust Shareholders' Equity [Member]		Noncontrolling Interest- Operating Partnership - Common		Noncontrolling Interest-Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 3,117,062	[1]	$ 3,117,062	[2]	$ 3,622	[2]	$ 3,056,059	[2]	$ 57,381	[2]				$ 147	[1]	$ 3,617,668	[1]	$ 7,437	[1]	$ (569,193)	[1]	$ 3,056,059	[1]	$ 57,381	[1]	$ 3,622	[1]
Common shares outstanding - Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	[1]											146,596,892
General Partner's units outstanding - Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	[2]												146,596,892
Limited Partners' units outstanding - Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	[2]													3,556,566
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares		58,473													2		58,471						58,473
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (shares)												1,957,378
Net income		223,999		223,999		547		218,211		5,241											218,211		218,211		5,241		547
Distributions		(288,047)																			(281,066)		(281,066)		(6,731)		(250)
Share-based compensation		12,457															12,457						12,457
Contributions from partners				70,930				70,930
Contributions from partners (shares)													1,957,378
Distributions to partners				(288,047)		(250)		(281,066)		(6,731)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation		(15,671)		(15,671)				(15,306)		(365)									(15,306)				(15,306)		(365)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivative instruments		(1,961)		(1,961)				(1,915)		(46)									(1,915)				(1,915)		(46)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units																	48						48		(48)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units (shares)												3,000	3,000
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares								48		(48)
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares (shares)														(3,000)
Common shares outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014												148,557,270
Limited Partners' units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014														3,553,566.000
General Partner's units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014													148,557,270.00
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		3,106,312		3,106,312		3,919		3,046,961		55,432					149		3,688,644		(9,784)		(632,048)		3,046,961		55,432		3,919
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership (mezzanine) - Beginning of Period at Dec. 31, 2013		7,537	[1]	7,537	[2]
Increase (Decrease) in Limited Partners' Equity
Temporary Equity, Net Income		472		472
Temporary Equity, Distributions		(472)		(472)
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership (mezzanine) - End of Period at Dec. 31, 2014		7,537		7,537
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares		38,797															38,797						38,797
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (shares)												1,328,017
Net income		245,452		245,452		249		239,483		5,720											239,483		239,483		5,720		249
Distributions		(289,240)																			(282,123)		(282,123)		(6,868)		(249)
Share-based compensation		13,763															13,763						13,763
Contributions from partners				52,560				52,560
Contributions from partners (shares)													1,328,017
Distributions to partners				(289,240)		(249)		(282,123)		(6,868)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation		(12,540)		(12,540)				(12,245)		(295)									(12,245)				(12,245)		(295)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivative instruments		(488)		(488)				(477)		(11)									(477)				(477)		(11)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units																	224						224		(224)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units (shares)												14,491	14,491
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares								224		(224)
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares (shares)														(14,491)
Share repurchase		$ (71,802)		$ (71,802)				(71,802)							(1)		(71,801)						(71,802)
Share repurchase (shares)												(2,321,794)	(2,321,794)
Common shares outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		147,577,984		147,577,984								147,577,984
Limited Partners' units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015				3,539,075										3,539,075
General Partner's units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015													147,577,984
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 3,030,254		$ 3,030,254		3,919		2,972,581		53,754					148		3,669,627		(22,506)		(674,688)		2,972,581		53,754		3,919
Increase (Decrease) in Limited Partners' Equity
Temporary Equity, Net Income		472		472
Temporary Equity, Distributions		(472)		(472)
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership (mezzanine) - End of Period at Dec. 31, 2015		7,537		7,537
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares		13,029															13,029						13,029
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (shares)												802,834
Net income		365,673		365,673		258		356,817		8,598											356,817		356,817		8,598		258
Distributions		(285,802)																			(278,764)		(278,764)		(6,780)		(258)
Share-based compensation		15,699															15,699						15,699
Contributions from partners				28,728				28,728
Contributions from partners (shares)													802,834
Distributions to partners				(285,802)		(258)		(278,764)		(6,780)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation		(34,744)		(34,744)				(33,925)		(819)									(33,925)				(33,925)		(819)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivative instruments		410		410				400		10									400				400		10
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units																	132						132		(132)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests – common units (shares)												9,044	9,044
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares								132		(132)
Redemption of limited partners common units for common shares (shares)														(9,044)
Share repurchase		(40,896)		(40,896)				(40,896)							(1)		(40,895)						(40,896)
Share repurchase (shares)												(1,396,844)	(1,396,844)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests		$ (700)		$ (700)		982		(1,682)									(1,682)						(1,682)				982
Common shares outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		146,993,018		146,993,018								146,993,018.000
Limited Partners' units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016				3,530,031										3,530,031
General Partner's units outstanding - Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016													146,993,018
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 3,062,923		$ 3,062,923		$ 4,901		$ 3,003,391		$ 54,631					$ 147		$ 3,655,910		$ (56,031)		$ (596,635)		$ 3,003,391		$ 54,631		$ 4,901
Increase (Decrease) in Limited Partners' Equity
Temporary Equity, Net Income		472		472
Temporary Equity, Distributions		(472)		(472)
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership (mezzanine) - End of Period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 7,537		$ 7,537

[1] The Company adjusted the January 1, 2014 balances of Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Distributions in Excess of Net Income, and Noncontrolling Interest - Operating Partnership - Common from previous filings. See Note 2.

[2] The Company adjusted the January 1, 2014 balances of General Partner's Equity and Limited Partners' Equity - Common Units from previous filings. See Note 2.