Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Mortgage Notes Payable (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Mortgage Notes Payable (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Collateral for mortgage notes payable 1wre_MinimumBuildingsOrLandCollateralForMortgageNotesPayable  
Mortgage notes payable $ 418,525,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt $ 294,671,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Carrying Amount, Mortgaged Properties 607,800,000wre_CarryingAmountMortgagedProperties 433,700,000wre_CarryingAmountMortgagedProperties
The Army Navy Club Building [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Mar. 26, 2014 [1]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 3.18%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_TheArmyNavyClubBuildingMember 		[2]  
Mortgage notes payable 52,235,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_TheArmyNavyClubBuildingMember 		0us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_TheArmyNavyClubBuildingMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date May 01, 2017  
Yale West [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Feb. 21, 2014 [1]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 3.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_YaleWestMember 		[2]  
Mortgage notes payable 53,029,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_YaleWestMember 		0us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_YaleWestMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jan. 31, 2022  
Six Fifty North Glebe Road [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Feb. 21, 2013 [1],[3],[4]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 2.31%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_SixFiftyNorthGlebeRoadMember 		[2],[3],[4]  
Mortgage notes payable 27,690,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_SixFiftyNorthGlebeRoadMember 		7,297,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_SixFiftyNorthGlebeRoadMember 		[3],[4]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Feb. 21, 2016 [3],[4]  
Extension term 2 years  
John Marshall II Member    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Sep. 15, 2011 [1]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 5.79%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_JohnMarshallIiMember 		[2]  
Mortgage notes payable 51,810,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_JohnMarshallIiMember 		52,563,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_JohnMarshallIiMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date May 05, 2016  
Olney Village Center Member    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Aug. 30, 2011 [1]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 4.94%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_OlneyVillageCenterMember 		[2]  
Mortgage notes payable 19,070,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_OlneyVillageCenterMember 		20,743,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_OlneyVillageCenterMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Oct. 01, 2023  
Kenmore Apartments [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Feb. 02, 2009 [1]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 5.37%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_KenmoreApartmentsMember 		[2]  
Mortgage notes payable 34,305,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_KenmoreApartmentsMember 		34,937,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_KenmoreApartmentsMember
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Mar. 01, 2019  
2445 M Street [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Dec. 02, 2008 [1],[3]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 7.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_MStreet2445Member 		[2],[3]  
Mortgage notes payable 99,357,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_MStreet2445Member 		[3] 98,102,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_MStreet2445Member 		[3]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jan. 06, 2017 [3]  
3801 Connecticut, Walker House, Bethesda Hill [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date May 29, 2008 [1],[5]  
Mortgage note, fair value interest rate 5.71%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_A3801ConnecticutWalkerHouseBethesdaHillMember 		[2],[5]  
Mortgage notes payable $ 81,029,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_A3801ConnecticutWalkerHouseBethesdaHillMember 		[5] $ 81,029,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_A3801ConnecticutWalkerHouseBethesdaHillMember 		[5]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jun. 01, 2016 [5]  
Extension term 1 year  
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Six Fifty North Glebe Road [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Spread on variable rate 2.15%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= wre_SixFiftyNorthGlebeRoadMember
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember 		 
[1] Each of these mortgages was assumed with the acquisition of the collateralized properties, except for the mortgage notes secured by 3801 Connecticut Avenue, Walker House, Bethesda Hill, Kenmore Apartments, and the construction loan secured by the development project at The Maxwell, which were originally executed by Washington REIT. We record mortgages assumed in an acquisition at fair value, and balances presented include any recorded premiums or discounts.
[2] Yield on the assumption/issuance date, including the effects of any premiums, discounts or fair value adjustments on the notes.
[3] Interest only is payable monthly until the maturity date upon which all unpaid principal and interest are payable in full.
[4] Interest rate on The Maxwell is variable, based on LIBOR plus 2.15%. The maturity date can be extended for up to two years, subject to fees and compliance with certain provisions in the loan agreement, until February 20, 2018.
[5] Interest only is payable monthly until the maturity date, which can be extended for one year upon which the interest rate is reset on June 1, 2016. At maturity on June 1, 2017, all unpaid principal and interest are payable in full.