Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
OPERATING REVENUE
Rental	$ 123,381	$ 139,054
Operating expense reimbursement	40,500	51,086
Development service fee income	11,485	0
Total operating revenue	175,366	190,140
OPERATING EXPENSE
Rental property	19,884	28,509
Real estate taxes	23,281	25,320
General and administrative	16,942	20,990
Depreciation and amortization	45,460	54,078
Development service fee expense	11,004	0
Total operating expenses	116,571	128,897
Operating income	58,795	61,243
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and other income	1,876	4,598
Interest expense	(22,343)	(31,412)
Total other income (expense)	(20,467)	(26,814)
Income before gain on property dispositions, income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	38,328	34,429
Gain on property dispositions	807	20,521
Income taxes	(622)	(801)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	5,731	4,914
Income from continuing operations	44,244	59,063
Net income	44,244	59,063
Noncontrolling interest – operating partnership	(1,149)	(1,509)
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	(63)	0
Net income available to common shareholders	43,032	57,554
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
Net income	44,244	59,063
Other comprehensive gain (loss) - foreign currency translation	3,177	(5,087)
Other comprehensive gain (loss) - derivative instruments	313	(1,360)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,490	(6,447)
Total comprehensive income	47,734	52,616
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,293)	(1,357)
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders	$ 46,441	$ 51,259
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	146,471	146,071
Diluted	147,221	146,531
Amounts attributable to common shareholders
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 43,032	$ 57,554
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
OPERATING REVENUE
Rental	123,381	139,054
Operating expense reimbursement	40,500	51,086
Development service fee income	11,485	0
Total operating revenue	175,366	190,140
OPERATING EXPENSE
Rental property	19,884	28,509
Real estate taxes	23,281	25,320
General and administrative	16,942	20,990
Depreciation and amortization	45,460	54,078
Development service fee expense	11,004	0
Total operating expenses	116,571	128,897
Operating income	58,795	61,243
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and other income	1,876	4,598
Interest expense	(22,343)	(31,412)
Total other income (expense)	(20,467)	(26,814)
Income before gain on property dispositions, income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	38,328	34,429
Gain on property dispositions	807	20,521
Income taxes	(622)	(801)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	5,731	4,914
Net income	44,244	59,063
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures	(63)	0
Preferred unit distributions	(118)	(118)
Net income available to common shareholders	44,063	58,945
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
Net income	44,244	59,063
Other comprehensive gain (loss) - foreign currency translation	3,177	(5,087)
Other comprehensive gain (loss) - derivative instruments	313	(1,360)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,490	(6,447)
Total comprehensive income	$ 47,734	$ 52,616
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic	150,000	149,610
Diluted	150,750	150,070
Net income allocated to general partners	$ 43,032	$ 57,554
Net income allocated to limited partners	1,149	1,509
Amounts attributable to common shareholders
Income from continuing operations	44,181	59,063
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 44,063	$ 58,945
Common shares [Member]
Basic:
Income per common share - basic	$ 0.29	$ 0.39
Diluted:
Income per common share - diluted	0.29	0.39
Distributions per common share or unit	0.40	0.475
Common Units [Member] | Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Basic:
Income per common share - basic	0.29	0.39
Diluted:
Income per common share - diluted	0.29	0.39
Distributions per common share or unit	$ 0.40	$ 0.475