Condensed consolidating financial information Income Statement (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Rental																$ 467,764		$ 422,793		$ 404,815
Tenant recoveries																150,095		133,280		126,205
Other income (loss)																13,292		18,424		5,760
Total revenues	168,823	[1]	158,315	[1]	153,930	[1]	150,083	[1]	151,254	142,547	[1]	145,296	[1]	135,400	[1]	631,151		574,497		536,780
Expenses:
Rental operations																189,039		172,756		157,634
General and administrative																48,520		47,747		41,112
Interest																67,952	[2]	69,184	[2]	63,373	[2]
Depreciation and amortization																189,123		185,687		150,906
Impairment of land parcel																0		2,050		0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																1,992		2,225		6,485
Total expenses																496,626		479,649		419,510
(Loss) income from continuing operations before equity in earnings of affiliates																134,525		94,848		117,270
Equity in earnings of affiliates																0		0		0
Income from continuing operations																134,525		94,848		117,270
(Loss) income from discontinued operations																900	[3]	8,816	[3]	18,077	[3]
Gain on sale of land parcel																4,824		1,864		46
Net income																140,249		105,528		135,393
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																4,032		3,402		3,975
Dividends on preferred stock																25,885		27,328		28,357
Preferred stock redemption charge																0		5,978		0
Net income attributable to unvested restricted stock awards																1,581		1,190		1,088
Net income attributable to Alexandria’s common stockholders	36,247		24,579		25,483		22,442		21,000	10,646		17,616		18,368		108,751		67,630		101,973
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (Issuer)
Revenues:
Rental																0		0		0
Tenant recoveries																0		0		0
Other income (loss)																10,423		6,891		8,356
Total revenues																10,423		6,891		8,356
Expenses:
Rental operations																0		0		0
General and administrative																43,528		44,306		36,263
Interest																43,284		46,677		38,582
Depreciation and amortization																5,907		5,384		3,256
Impairment of land parcel																		0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																1,992		2,225		6,485
Total expenses																94,711		98,592		84,586
(Loss) income from continuing operations before equity in earnings of affiliates																(84,288)		(91,701)		(76,230)
Equity in earnings of affiliates																220,158		194,566		202,829
Income from continuing operations																135,870		102,865		126,599
(Loss) income from discontinued operations																347		(739)		4,819
Gain on sale of land parcel																0		0		0
Net income																136,217		102,126		131,418
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																0		0		0
Dividends on preferred stock																25,885		27,328		28,357
Preferred stock redemption charge																		5,978
Net income attributable to unvested restricted stock awards																1,581		1,190		1,088
Net income attributable to Alexandria’s common stockholders																108,751		67,630		101,973
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, L.P. (Guarantor Subsidiary)
Revenues:
Rental																0		0		0
Tenant recoveries																0		0		0
Other income (loss)																(74)		1,292		(452)
Total revenues																(74)		1,292		(452)
Expenses:
Rental operations																0		0		0
General and administrative																0		3		17
Interest																0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization																0		0		0
Impairment of land parcel																0		0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																0		0		0
Total expenses																0		3		17
(Loss) income from continuing operations before equity in earnings of affiliates																(74)		1,289		(469)
Equity in earnings of affiliates																205,993		183,139		192,143
Income from continuing operations																205,919		184,428		191,674
(Loss) income from discontinued operations																0		0		0
Gain on sale of land parcel																0		0		0
Net income																205,919		184,428		191,674
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																0		0		0
Dividends on preferred stock																0		0		0
Preferred stock redemption charge																		0
Net income attributable to unvested restricted stock awards																0		0		0
Net income attributable to Alexandria’s common stockholders																205,919		184,428		191,674
Combined Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Rental																467,764		422,793		404,815
Tenant recoveries																150,095		133,280		126,205
Other income (loss)																15,912		23,294		10,676
Total revenues																633,771		579,367		541,696
Expenses:
Rental operations																189,039		172,756		157,634
General and administrative																17,961		16,491		17,652
Interest																24,668		22,507		24,791
Depreciation and amortization																183,216		180,303		147,650
Impairment of land parcel																		2,050
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																0		0		0
Total expenses																414,884		394,107		347,727
(Loss) income from continuing operations before equity in earnings of affiliates																218,887		185,260		193,969
Equity in earnings of affiliates																4,067		3,638		3,793
Income from continuing operations																222,954		188,898		197,762
(Loss) income from discontinued operations																553		9,555		13,258
Gain on sale of land parcel																4,824		1,864		46
Net income																228,331		200,317		211,066
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																4,032		3,402		3,975
Dividends on preferred stock																0		0		0
Preferred stock redemption charge																		0
Net income attributable to unvested restricted stock awards																0		0		0
Net income attributable to Alexandria’s common stockholders																224,299		196,915		207,091
Eliminations
Revenues:
Rental																0		0		0
Tenant recoveries																0		0		0
Other income (loss)																(12,969)		(13,053)		(12,820)
Total revenues																(12,969)		(13,053)		(12,820)
Expenses:
Rental operations																0		0		0
General and administrative																(12,969)		(13,053)		(12,820)
Interest																0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization																0		0		0
Impairment of land parcel																		0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																0		0		0
Total expenses																(12,969)		(13,053)		(12,820)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before equity in earnings of affiliates																0		0		0
Equity in earnings of affiliates																(430,218)		(381,343)		(398,765)
Income from continuing operations																(430,218)		(381,343)		(398,765)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations																0		0		0
Gain on sale of land parcel																0		0		0
Net income																(430,218)		(381,343)		(398,765)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																0		0		0
Dividends on preferred stock																0		0		0
Preferred stock redemption charge																		0
Net income attributable to unvested restricted stock awards																0		0		0
Net income attributable to Alexandria’s common stockholders																$ (430,218)		$ (381,343)		$ (398,765)

[1] All periods have been adjusted from amounts previously disclosed in our quarterly filings on Form 10-Q to reclassify amounts related to discontinued operations. See Note 17, Discontinued Operations.

[2] Includes interest expense related to and classified in income from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

[3] Income from discontinued operations includes the results of operations of four properties that were classified as “held for sale” as of December 31, 2013, as well as the results of operations (prior to disposition) and gain/loss on sale of real estate attributable to 14 properties sold during the period from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2013.