Information by Business Segment (Details) - USD ($)  $ in Thousands  | 
3 Months Ended | 
6 Months Ended | 
 | 
Jun. 30, 2019  | 
Jun. 30, 2018  | 
Jun. 30, 2019  | 
Jun. 30, 2018  | 
Dec. 31, 2018  | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
$ 175,070
 | 
$ 146,743
 | 
$ 324,010
 | 
$ 302,219
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(47,886)
 | 
(49,446)
 | 
(97,331)
 | 
(100,397)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
1,251
 | 
1,202
 | 
2,470
 | 
2,401
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
3,803,469
 | 
3,612,362
 | 
3,803,469
 | 
3,612,362
 | 
$ 3,656,005
 | 
| Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
132,771
 | 
129,162
 | 
264,761
 | 
257,440
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(47,886)
 | 
(49,446)
 | 
(97,331)
 | 
(100,397)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
1,251
 | 
1,202
 | 
2,470
 | 
2,401
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
86,136
 | 
80,918
 | 
169,900
 | 
159,444
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
15,665
 | 
16,768
 | 
30,519
 | 
31,063
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
101,611
 | 
34,224
 | 
141,086
 | 
54,318
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
108,452
 | 
105,227
 | 
216,975
 | 
209,347
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(36,330)
 | 
(38,241)
 | 
(75,212)
 | 
(76,704)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
1,251
 | 
1,202
 | 
2,470
 | 
2,401
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
73,373
 | 
68,188
 | 
144,233
 | 
135,044
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
10,666
 | 
11,138
 | 
21,365
 | 
21,386
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
101,611
 | 
33,091
 | 
141,086
 | 
52,173
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Fort Meade/BW Corridor | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
61,659
 | 
61,993
 | 
124,342
 | 
124,775
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(19,344)
 | 
(20,099)
 | 
(41,679)
 | 
(41,703)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
42,315
 | 
41,894
 | 
82,663
 | 
83,072
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
7,499
 | 
8,151
 | 
11,434
 | 
15,272
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
1,338
 | 
3,035
 | 
6,378
 | 
20,221
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Northern Virginia Defense/IT | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
13,912
 | 
13,118
 | 
28,743
 | 
25,679
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(4,694)
 | 
(4,909)
 | 
(9,986)
 | 
(9,632)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
9,218
 | 
8,209
 | 
18,757
 | 
16,047
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
1,703
 | 
1,186
 | 
3,150
 | 
3,126
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
20
 | 
352
 | 
4,529
 | 
693
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Lackland Air Force Base | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
12,104
 | 
12,382
 | 
23,665
 | 
23,825
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(6,648)
 | 
(7,494)
 | 
(12,607)
 | 
(14,092)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
5,456
 | 
4,888
 | 
11,058
 | 
9,733
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
1,833
 | 
0
 | 
8,336
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Navy Support Locations | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
8,185
 | 
8,127
 | 
16,340
 | 
15,997
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(3,286)
 | 
(3,431)
 | 
(6,690)
 | 
(6,735)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
4,899
 | 
4,696
 | 
9,650
 | 
9,262
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
928
 | 
1,450
 | 
5,945
 | 
2,558
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
0
 | 
3
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Redstone Arsenal | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
3,968
 | 
3,652
 | 
7,907
 | 
7,285
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(1,599)
 | 
(1,509)
 | 
(3,138)
 | 
(2,949)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
2,369
 | 
2,143
 | 
4,769
 | 
4,336
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
536
 | 
351
 | 
836
 | 
430
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
5,576
 | 
26
 | 
9,211
 | 
470
 | 
 
 | 
| Defense/Information Technology Locations | Data Center Shells | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
8,624
 | 
5,955
 | 
15,978
 | 
11,786
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(759)
 | 
(799)
 | 
(1,112)
 | 
(1,593)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
1,251
 | 
1,202
 | 
2,470
 | 
2,401
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
9,116
 | 
6,358
 | 
17,336
 | 
12,594
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
92,844
 | 
29,675
 | 
112,632
 | 
30,789
 | 
 
 | 
| Regional Office | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
15,018
 | 
15,296
 | 
29,851
 | 
30,580
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(7,590)
 | 
(7,169)
 | 
(15,006)
 | 
(15,047)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
7,428
 | 
8,127
 | 
14,845
 | 
15,533
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
4,870
 | 
5,361
 | 
8,859
 | 
9,245
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Operating wholesale data center | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
8,560
 | 
8,105
 | 
16,431
 | 
16,182
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(3,618)
 | 
(4,150)
 | 
(6,456)
 | 
(8,408)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
4,942
 | 
3,955
 | 
9,975
 | 
7,774
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
95
 | 
81
 | 
251
 | 
117
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
0
 | 
1,133
 | 
0
 | 
2,145
 | 
 
 | 
| Other | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Revenues from real estate operations | 
741
 | 
534
 | 
1,504
 | 
1,331
 | 
 
 | 
| Property operating expenses | 
(348)
 | 
114
 | 
(657)
 | 
(238)
 | 
 
 | 
| UJV NOI allocable to COPT | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| NOI from real estate operations | 
393
 | 
648
 | 
847
 | 
1,093
 | 
 
 | 
| Additions to long-lived assets | 
34
 | 
188
 | 
44
 | 
315
 | 
 
 | 
| Transfers from non-operating properties | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
3,036,140
 | 
3,042,452
 | 
3,036,140
 | 
3,042,452
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
3,036,140
 | 
3,042,452
 | 
3,036,140
 | 
3,042,452
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
2,429,467
 | 
2,420,153
 | 
2,429,467
 | 
2,420,153
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Fort Meade/BW Corridor | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
1,274,336
 | 
1,269,525
 | 
1,274,336
 | 
1,269,525
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Northern Virginia Defense/IT | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
398,586
 | 
396,139
 | 
398,586
 | 
396,139
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Lackland Air Force Base | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
146,475
 | 
126,956
 | 
146,475
 | 
126,956
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Navy Support Locations | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
187,172
 | 
190,537
 | 
187,172
 | 
190,537
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Redstone Arsenal | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
115,222
 | 
106,374
 | 
115,222
 | 
106,374
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Defense/Information Technology Locations | Data Center Shells | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
307,676
 | 
330,622
 | 
307,676
 | 
330,622
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Regional Office | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
393,110
 | 
396,847
 | 
393,110
 | 
396,847
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Operating wholesale data center | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
209,787
 | 
221,239
 | 
209,787
 | 
221,239
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | Other | Real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Segment assets | 
$ 3,776
 | 
$ 4,213
 | 
$ 3,776
 | 
$ 4,213
 | 
 
 |