Income per Common Unit of the Operating Partnership - Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income (Numerator) [Abstract]
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 43,032	$ 57,554
Weighted Average Units (Denominator) [Abstract]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	146,471	146,071
Dilutive units for long-term compensation plans	750	460
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	147,221	146,531
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Income (Numerator) [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations net of noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	$ 44,181	$ 59,063
Less: Preferred unit distributions	(118)	(118)
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 44,063	$ 58,945
Weighted Average Units (Denominator) [Abstract]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	150,000	149,610
Dilutive units for long-term compensation plans	750	460
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	150,750	150,070
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member] \| Common Units [Member]
Earnings Per Unit, Basic [Abstract]
Income per common share - basic	$ 0.29	$ 0.39
Earnings Per Unit, Diluted [Abstract]
Income per common share - diluted	$ 0.29	$ 0.39

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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The amount of preferred stock dividends that is an adjustment to net income apportioned to common stockholders.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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