Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of quarterly financial information
Total Revenues	$ 79,677	$ 78,586	$ 79,386	$ 80,186	$ 80,127	$ 78,186	$ 80,756	$ 82,709	$ 317,835	$ 321,778	$ 384,572
Equity in (Loss) Income of Joint Ventures	73	772	99	36	950	(398)	582	(459)	980	675	(6,470)
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Continuing Operations	798	952	526	877	2,065	7,419	1,870	2,309	3,097	13,623	4,019
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations, Net of Income Tax and Noncontrolling Interest	(8,727)	(10,450)	(3,260)	(6,611)	(20,973)	(81,979)	(17,308)	(21,776)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Tax Provision	9,349	5,947	3,692	3,105	(2,177)	(72,873)	4,069	4,544	22,093	(66,437)	24,282
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Discontinued Operations	(543)	(349)	(236)	(224)	176	5,664	(309)	(356)	(1,352)	5,175	(2,472)
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Income Tax Provision	0	918	0	0		(214)		731	918	517	231
Noncontrolling Interest Allocable to Gain (Loss) on Sale of Real Estate	0	(56)	0	0		17		(57)
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc	79	(3,990)	196	(3,730)	(22,974)	(149,385)	(13,548)	(16,914)	(7,445)	(202,821)	5,733
Less: Preferred Dividends	(4,763)	(4,928)	(4,947)	(4,927)	(4,854)	(4,884)	(4,979)	(4,960)	(19,565)	(19,677)	(19,516)
Net Loss Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ (4,684)	$ (8,918)	$ (4,751)	$ (8,657)	$ (27,828)	$ (154,269)	$ (18,527)	$ (21,874)	$ (27,010)	$ (222,498)	$ (13,783)
Basic and Diluted EPS:
Loss from Continuing Operations Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ (0.16)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.1)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.40)	$ (1.38)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.42)	$ (0.59)	$ (2.56)	$ (0.73)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 0.10	$ 0.07	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ (0.03)	$ (1.07)	$ 0.06	$ 0.07	$ 0.26	$ (0.97)	$ 0.45
Net (Loss) Income Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ (0.05)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.43)	$ (2.44)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.34)	$ (3.53)	$ (0.28)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding	85,941	85,930	79,727	70,639	64,049	63,100	62,838	61,797	80,616	62,953	48,695