Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 181,747	$ 171,182
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	153,626,000	153,230,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.18	$ 1.12
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	$ (247)	$ (188)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (per share / unit)	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 181,500	$ 170,994
Net income attributable to the Company'scommon shareholders / unitholders(in shares / units)	153,626,000	153,230,000
Net income attributable tothe Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.18	$ 1.12
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	291,000	643,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 181,500	$ 170,994
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units) (Denominator)	153,917,000	153,873,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.18	$ 1.11
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Redeemable Common Units	17,683,000	17,854,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 207,296	$ 193,369
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	171,309,000	171,084,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.21	$ 1.13
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	$ (275)	$ (210)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (per share / unit)	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 207,021	$ 193,159
Net income attributable to the Company'scommon shareholders / unitholders(in shares / units)	171,309,000	171,084,000
Net income attributable tothe Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.21	$ 1.13
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	291,000	643,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 207,021	$ 193,159
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units) (Denominator)	171,600,000	171,727,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 1.21	$ 1.12