Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real estate:
Land and land improvements	$ 1,153,680	$ 1,060,065
Building and improvements	4,443,583	4,298,012
Less accumulated depreciation	(940,613)	(847,106)
Operating real estate	4,656,650	4,510,971
Development in progress	378,472	267,450
Land held for development	330,748	336,569
Net real estate	5,365,870	5,114,990
Cash and cash equivalents	11,882	43,642
Restricted cash	13,803	12,383
Accounts receivable, net	11,230	13,365
Deferred rent receivable, net	115,141	102,878
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net	159,250	147,038
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	288,456	245,078
Assets held for sale	182,228	164,888
Prepaid expenses and other assets	291,897	148,551
Total assets	6,439,757	5,992,813
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans, net	267,093	276,650
Unsecured notes, net	2,283,513	2,280,286
Credit facilities	358,939	0
Accounts payable	79,605	64,951
Accrued interest	21,796	21,878
Dividend and distributions payable	60,330	71,501
Other liabilities	208,027	199,008
Liabilities held for sale	4,551	8,079
Total liabilities	3,283,854	2,922,353
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares authorized; 147,450,691 and 146,993,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	147	147
Additional paid-in capital	3,674,978	3,655,910
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(37,797)	(56,031)
Distributions in excess of net income	(549,970)	(596,635)
Total Liberty Property Trust shareholders’ equity	3,087,358	3,003,391
Noncontrolling interest – operating partnership
3,520,205 and 3,530,031 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	56,159	54,631
Noncontrolling interest – consolidated joint ventures	4,849	4,901
Total equity	3,148,366	3,062,923
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	6,439,757	5,992,813
Liberty Property Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate:
Land and land improvements	1,153,680	1,060,065
Building and improvements	4,443,583	4,298,012
Less accumulated depreciation	(940,613)	(847,106)
Operating real estate	4,656,650	4,510,971
Development in progress	378,472	267,450
Land held for development	330,748	336,569
Net real estate	5,365,870	5,114,990
Cash and cash equivalents	11,882	43,642
Restricted cash	13,803	12,383
Accounts receivable, net	11,230	13,365
Deferred rent receivable, net	115,141	102,878
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net	159,250	147,038
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	288,456	245,078
Assets held for sale	182,228	164,888
Prepaid expenses and other assets	291,897	148,551
Total assets	6,439,757	5,992,813
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans, net	267,093	276,650
Unsecured notes, net	2,283,513	2,280,286
Credit facilities	358,939	0
Accounts payable	79,605	64,951
Accrued interest	21,796	21,878
Dividend and distributions payable	60,330	71,501
Other liabilities	208,027	199,008
Liabilities held for sale	4,551	8,079
Total liabilities	3,283,854	2,922,353
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	7,537	7,537
EQUITY
General partner’s equity - 147,450,691 and 146,993,018 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	3,087,358	3,003,391
Limited partners’ equity – 3,520,205 and 3,530,031 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	56,159	54,631
Noncontrolling interest – operating partnership
Noncontrolling interest – consolidated joint ventures	4,849	4,901
Total equity	3,148,366	3,062,923
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity	$ 6,439,757	$ 5,992,813