Organization (Details) ft² in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 ft² a series Real_Estate_Properties yr shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Restriction on redemption of OP units from date of issuance (years) | yr	1
One OP unit is equivalent to one share of Common Stock (in shares) | shares	1
OP unit conversion rate (in shares) | shares	1
Number Of Series Of Preferred Units Outstanding | series	1
Area of undeveloped land parcels owned (in acres) | a	457.1
Commercial Real Estate Properties [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	167
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²	46.3
Total Properties Under Construction [ Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	11
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²	4.6
Total Office Properties [ Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	157
Office Properties Under Construction [ Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	9
Hotel Property [ Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	1
Retail Properties [ Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	5
Residential Properties [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	4
Residential Properties Under Construction [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	2
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Ratio of depository shares to shares of Series B Preferred Stock	0.01
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares) | shares	80,000	80,000
Series B, Dividend Rate, Percentage	5.25%
Depository shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares) | shares	8,000,000
Series B Preferred Units [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares) | shares	80,000
Boston Properties Inc
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
General and limited partnership interest in the operating partnership (percent)	89.40%	89.50%