Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator:
Income from Continuing Operations	$ 8,458	$ 2,280	$ 15,881	$ 1,073
Gain on Sale of Real Estate	0	291	0	553
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Continuing Operations	(338)	31	(528)	486
Income from Continuing Operations Allocable to Participating Securities	(34)	0	(57)	0
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.	8,086	2,602	15,296	2,112
Preferred Dividends	0	(1,392)	(1,019)	(7,506)
Redemption of Preferred Stock	0	(2,121)	(1,462)	(5,667)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	8,086	(911)	12,815	(11,061)
Income from Discontinued Operations	13,737	6,192	15,585	17,376
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Discontinued Operations	(530)	(250)	(609)	(730)
Income from Discontinued Operations Allocable to Participating Securities	(56)	(42)	(66)	(120)
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.	13,151	5,900	14,910	16,526
Net Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders and Participating Securities	21,327	5,031	27,848	5,585
Net Income Allocable to Participating Securities	(90)	(42)	(123)	(120)
Net Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	$ 21,237	$ 4,989	$ 27,725	$ 5,465
Denominator:
Weighted Average Shares—Basic	110,072	109,474	109,856	106,154
LTIP Unit Awards	199	0	442	0
Weighted Average Shares—Diluted	110,271	109,474	110,298	106,154
Basic and Diluted EPS:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	$ 0.07	$ 0.00	$ 0.12	$ (0.10)
Income from Discontinued Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	$ 0.12	$ 0.05	$ 0.13	$ 0.15
Net Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.’s Common Stockholders	$ 0.19	$ 0.05	$ 0.25	$ 0.05