Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($)  $ in Thousands  | 
Total  | 
Common Stock Issued to Public Under At-the-Market Program  | 
Forward Equity Sale Agreement  | 
Preferred Shares  | 
Common Shares  | 
 Common Shares  
Common Stock Issued to Public Under At-the-Market Program 
 | 
 Common Shares  
Forward Equity Sale Agreement 
 | 
Additional Paid-in Capital  | 
 Additional Paid-in Capital  
Common Stock Issued to Public Under At-the-Market Program 
 | 
 Additional Paid-in Capital  
Forward Equity Sale Agreement 
 | 
Cumulative Distributions in Excess of Net Income  | 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)  | 
Noncontrolling Interests  | 
Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Common Stock Issued to Public Under At-the-Market Program 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Forward Equity Sale Agreement 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Common Shares 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Common Shares  
Common Stock Issued to Public Under At-the-Market Program 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Common Shares  
Forward Equity Sale Agreement 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Noncontrolling Interests 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Limited Partner 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
Limited Partner  
Preferred Shares 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
General Partner 
 | 
 Corporate Office Properties, L.P.  
General Partner  
Preferred Shares 
 | 
| Balance (COPT: 98,498,651 and 101,292,299 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively) at Dec. 31, 2016 | 
$ 1,612,777
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 172,500
 | 
$ 985
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 2,116,581
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (747,825)
 | 
$ (1,731)
 | 
$ 72,267
 | 
$ 1,612,777
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 1,419,710
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (1,854)
 | 
$ 13,621
 | 
 
 | 
$ 8,800
 | 
 
 | 
$ 172,500
 | 
| Balance (preferred units) at Dec. 31, 2016 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
352,000
 | 
 
 | 
6,900,000
 | 
| Balance (in units/shares) at Dec. 31, 2016 | 
98,498,651
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
102,089,042
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Redemption of preferred units resulting from redemption of preferred shares (in units) | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(6,900,000)
 | 
| Redemption of preferred shares (6,900,000 shares) | 
$ (172,500)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(172,500)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
6,847
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(6,847)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(172,500)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (172,500)
 | 
| Conversion of common units to common shares (COPT: 337,000 and 1,895,627 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) | 
$ 0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
3
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
4,599
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(4,602)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Common shares issued during the period | 
 
 | 
$ 19,668
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 6
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 19,662
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 19,668
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 19,668
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Common shares issued during the period (in shares) | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
591,042
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Issuance of common units resulting from exercise of share options (in units) | 
5,000
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
5,000
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Issuance of common units resulting from exercise of share options (COPT: 5,000 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017) | 
$ 150
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
150
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
150
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 150
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Share-based compensation issuance, net of redemptions (in units/shares) | 
176,477
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
176,477
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Share-based compensation issuance, net of redemptions (COPT: 176,477 and 141,633 shares issued, net of redemptions for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) | 
$ 4,444
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
4,442
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
4,444
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 4,444
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Redemption of vested equity awards | 
(1,869)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,869)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,869)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,869)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(589)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
589
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Comprehensive income | 
63,115
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
59,124
 | 
872
 | 
3,119
 | 
63,115
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
54,481
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
902
 | 
1,018
 | 
 
 | 
$ 495
 | 
 
 | 
6,219
 | 
| Dividends / Distributions to owners of common and preferred units | 
(88,300)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(88,300)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(91,562)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(84,848)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (495)
 | 
 
 | 
$ (6,219)
 | 
| Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP | 
(3,262)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(3,262)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries | 
(2,614)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,614)
 | 
(2,614)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,614)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests | 
$ 244
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
244
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
244
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 244
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Balance (in units/shares) at Sep. 30, 2017 | 
99,608,170
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
102,861,561
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Balance (preferred units) at Sep. 30, 2017 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
352,000
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Balance (COPT: 99,608,170 shares and 108,848,223 shares as of September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) at Sep. 30, 2017 | 
$ 1,431,853
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
996
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,150,067
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(783,848)
 | 
(859)
 | 
65,497
 | 
1,431,853
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 1,411,980
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(952)
 | 
12,025
 | 
 
 | 
$ 8,800
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
| Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of hedge accounting guidance | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(276)
 | 
276
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(276)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
276
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Balance, as adjusted | 
1,468,307
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
1,013
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,201,047
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(802,361)
 | 
2,443
 | 
66,165
 | 
1,468,307
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1,444,746
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,449
 | 
12,312
 | 
 
 | 
8,800
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Balance (COPT: 98,498,651 and 101,292,299 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively) at Dec. 31, 2017 | 
$ 1,468,307
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
1,013
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,201,047
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(802,085)
 | 
2,167
 | 
66,165
 | 
1,468,307
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 1,445,022
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,173
 | 
12,312
 | 
 
 | 
$ 8,800
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
| Balance (preferred units) at Dec. 31, 2017 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
352,000
 | 
352,000
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Balance (in units/shares) at Dec. 31, 2017 | 
101,292,299
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
104,543,177
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
3,250,878
 | 
 
 | 
101,292,299
 | 
 
 | 
| Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Conversion of common units to common shares (COPT: 337,000 and 1,895,627 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) | 
$ 0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
19
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
27,263
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(27,282)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Common shares issued during the period | 
 
 | 
$ 29,732
 | 
$ 132,330
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 10
 | 
$ 45
 | 
 
 | 
$ 29,722
 | 
$ 132,285
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 29,732
 | 
$ 132,330
 | 
 
 | 
$ 29,732
 | 
$ 132,330
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Common shares issued during the period (in shares) | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
4,527,000
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
991,664
 | 
4,527,000
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Share-based compensation issuance, net of redemptions (in units/shares) | 
141,633
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
141,633
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Share-based compensation issuance, net of redemptions (COPT: 176,477 and 141,633 shares issued, net of redemptions for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) | 
$ 5,179
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
5,178
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
5,179
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 5,179
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Redemption of vested equity awards | 
(1,611)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,611)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,611)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,611)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,069)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,069
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Comprehensive income | 
66,188
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
55,281
 | 
7,665
 | 
3,242
 | 
66,188
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
56,813
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
7,904
 | 
976
 | 
 
 | 
$ 495
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
| Dividends / Distributions to owners of common and preferred units | 
(86,428)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(86,428)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(89,054)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(88,559)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (495)
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
| Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP | 
(2,626)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,626)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries | 
(11)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(11)
 | 
(11)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(11)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests | 
$ (1,331)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,331)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,331)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (1,331)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Balance (in units/shares) at Sep. 30, 2018 | 
108,848,223
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
110,203,474
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1,355,251
 | 
 
 | 
108,848,223
 | 
 
 | 
| Balance (preferred units) at Sep. 30, 2018 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
352,000
 | 
352,000
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Balance (COPT: 99,608,170 shares and 108,848,223 shares as of September 30, 2017 and 2018, respectively) at Sep. 30, 2018 | 
$ 1,609,729
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
$ 1,088
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 2,390,484
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ (833,508)
 | 
$ 10,108
 | 
$ 41,557
 | 
$ 1,609,729
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 1,577,299
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 10,353
 | 
$ 13,277
 | 
 
 | 
$ 8,800
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 |