CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ PARTNER'S CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Noncontrolling Interest	First Industrial, L.P.	First Industrial, L.P. General Partner Units	First Industrial, L.P. Limited Partner Units	First Industrial, L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	First Industrial, L.P. Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,475,877	$ 1,199	$ 1,967,110	$ (541,847)	$ 1,338	$ 48,077
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017							$ 1,485,995	$ 1,401,583	$ 82,251	$ 1,382	$ 779
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	37,464			36,292		1,172	37,464	36,271	1,172		21
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6,549				6,366	183	6,549			6,549
Stock Based Compensation Activity	(4,385)	3	(1,106)	(3,282)
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(4,385)	4,385
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(27,107)			(26,332)		(775)
Unit Distributions							(27,107)	(26,332)	(775)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	4	5,005			(5,009)	0	5,009	(5,009)
Retirement of Limited Partner Units	(934)					(934)	(934)		(934)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(292)			292
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							116				116
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(21)				(21)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	1,487,464	1,206	1,970,717	(535,169)	7,704	43,006
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018							1,497,677	1,412,146	76,705	7,931	895
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,475,877	1,199	1,967,110	(541,847)	1,338	48,077
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017							1,485,995	1,401,583	82,251	1,382	779
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	115,398						115,398
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	13	16,496			(16,509)	0	16,509	(16,509)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,663,025	1,263	2,129,551	(514,065)	12,129	34,147
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018							1,673,183	1,594,114	65,804	12,381	884
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	1,487,464	1,206	1,970,717	(535,169)	7,704	43,006
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018							1,497,677	1,412,146	76,705	7,931	895
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	46,404			45,209		1,195	46,404	45,187	1,195		22
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,748				2,731	17	2,748			2,748
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	145,408	48	145,360				145,408	145,408
Stock Based Compensation Activity	1,997	0	1,997	0
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(1,997)	(1,997)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(28,209)			(27,566)		(643)
Unit Distributions							(28,209)	(27,566)	(643)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	6	7,312			(7,318)	0	7,318	(7,318)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(1,926)			1,926
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							5				5
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(43)				(43)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	1,655,812	1,260	2,123,460	(517,526)	10,435	38,183
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018							1,665,987	1,584,490	69,939	10,679	879
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	31,530			30,911		619	31,530	30,889	619		22
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	1,702				1,694	8	1,702			1,702
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,003	0	2,003	0
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(2,003)	(2,003)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(28,022)			(27,450)		(572)
Unit Distributions							(28,022)	(27,450)	(572)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	3	4,179			(4,182)	0	4,182	(4,182)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(91)			91
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							3				3
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(20)				(20)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,663,025	1,263	2,129,551	(514,065)	12,129	34,147
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018							1,673,183	1,594,114	65,804	12,381	884
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,679,911	1,263	2,131,556	(490,807)	3,502	34,397
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018							1,690,019	1,619,342	66,246	3,574	857
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	24,340			23,803		537	24,340	23,777	537		26
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(6,330)				(6,190)	(140)	(6,330)			(6,330)
Stock Based Compensation Activity	(2,035)	2	(611)	(1,696)		270
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(2,035)	2,305	(270)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(29,922)			(29,258)		(664)
Unit Distributions							(29,922)	(29,258)	(664)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(3,238)			3,238
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income	0				(7)	7
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(43)				(43)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,665,964	1,265	2,127,707	(497,958)	(2,695)	37,645
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019							1,676,029	1,611,556	66,389	(2,756)	840
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,679,911	1,263	2,131,556	(490,807)	3,502	34,397
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018							1,690,019	1,619,342	66,246	3,574	857
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	145,055						145,055
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	5	6,856			(6,861)	0	6,861	(6,861)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,725,320	1,270	2,138,058	(438,337)	(8,444)	32,773
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019							1,735,343	1,681,106	61,987	(8,605)	855
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,665,964	1,265	2,127,707	(497,958)	(2,695)	37,645
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019							1,676,029	1,611,556	66,389	(2,756)	840
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	40,713			39,800		913	40,713	39,776	913		24
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(4,463)				(4,362)	(101)	(4,463)			(4,463)
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,053	0	1,542	0		511
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(2,053)	(1,542)	(511)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(29,864)			(29,212)		(652)
Unit Distributions							(29,864)	(29,212)	(652)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		458			(458)
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income	0				(1)	1
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							5				5
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(21)				(21)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	1,674,403	1,265	2,129,707	(487,370)	(7,058)	37,859
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019							1,684,452	1,623,662	67,161	(7,219)	848
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net Income	80,002			78,311		1,691	80,002	78,278	1,691		33
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(1,386)				(1,363)	(23)	(1,386)			(1,386)
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,131	0	1,583	0		548
Stock Based Compensation Activity							(2,131)	(1,583)	548
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(29,830)			(29,278)		(552)
Unit Distributions							(29,830)	(29,278)	(552)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	5	6,856			(6,861)	0	6,861	(6,861)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(88)			88
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income	0				(23)	23
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							5				5
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(31)				(31)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,725,320	$ 1,270	$ 2,138,058	$ (438,337)	$ (8,444)	$ 32,773
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019							$ 1,735,343	$ 1,681,106	$ 61,987	$ (8,605)	$ 855