Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 216,222	$ 209,170
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	159,448	154,223
Non-cash compensation expense	10,069	11,011
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,791)	(14,834)
Distributions of net cash flow from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures	10,718	1,350
Gains from investments in securities	(259)	(393)
Non-cash portion of interest expense	(10,138)	(10,884)
Gains on sales of real estate	(67,623)	(95,084)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Cash held in escrows	1,940	1,044
Tenant and other receivables, net	25,018	(1,173)
Accrued rental income, net	(12,981)	(23,250)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	45,560	3,447
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(5,209)	(5,535)
Accrued interest payable	31,192	23,098
Other liabilities	(33,319)	(23,136)
Tenant leasing costs	(19,867)	(27,608)
Total adjustments	132,758	(7,724)
Net cash provided by operating activities	348,980	201,446
Cash flows from investing activities:
Construction in progress	(122,940)	(60,013)
Building and other capital improvements	(25,329)	(19,391)
Tenant improvements	(55,739)	(26,950)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	104,816	194,821
Proceeds from sales of real estate placed in escrow	(104,696)	(201,857)
Proceeds from sales of real estate released from escrow	104,696	99,916
Cash released from scrow for land sale contracts	488	0
Deposit on real estate	0	(5,000)
Capital contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,215)	(2,444)
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	24,527
Investments in securities, net	(438)	(884)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(109,357)	2,725
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of mortgage notes payable	(6,265)	(7,024)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes	997,080	0
Proceeds from real estate financing transaction	0	6,000
Payments on real estate financing transactions	(781)	(636)
Deferred financing costs	(8,047)	(20)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(657)	(145)
Dividends and distributions	(328,567)	(883,684)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	2,489	629
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(12,915)	(17,974)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	642,337	(902,854)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	881,960	(698,683)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	723,718	1,763,079
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,605,678	1,064,396
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	93,524	104,508
Interest capitalized	9,269	7,965
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to real estate included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(24,857)	9,243
Dividends and distributions declared but not paid	113,079	112,796
Conversions of noncontrolling interests to stockholders’ equity	446	8,689
Issuance of restricted securities to employees	32,630	42,279
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	220,378	211,169
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	157,461	152,224
Non-cash compensation expense	10,069	11,011
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,791)	(14,834)
Distributions of net cash flow from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures	10,718	1,350
Gains from investments in securities	(259)	(393)
Non-cash portion of interest expense	(10,138)	(10,884)
Gains on sales of real estate	(69,792)	(95,084)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Cash held in escrows	1,940	1,044
Tenant and other receivables, net	25,018	(1,173)
Accrued rental income, net	(12,981)	(23,250)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	45,560	3,447
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(5,209)	(5,535)
Accrued interest payable	31,192	23,098
Other liabilities	(33,319)	(23,136)
Tenant leasing costs	(19,867)	(27,608)
Total adjustments	128,602	(9,723)
Net cash provided by operating activities	348,980	201,446
Cash flows from investing activities:
Construction in progress	(122,940)	(60,013)
Building and other capital improvements	(25,329)	(19,391)
Tenant improvements	(55,739)	(26,950)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	104,816	194,821
Proceeds from sales of real estate placed in escrow	(104,696)	(201,857)
Proceeds from sales of real estate released from escrow	104,696	99,916
Cash released from scrow for land sale contracts	488	0
Deposit on real estate	0	(5,000)
Capital contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,215)	(2,444)
Capital distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	24,527
Investments in securities, net	(438)	(884)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(109,357)	2,725
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of mortgage notes payable	(6,265)	(7,024)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes	997,080	0
Proceeds from real estate financing transaction	0	6,000
Payments on real estate financing transactions	(781)	(636)
Deferred financing costs	(8,047)	(20)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(657)	(145)
Dividends and distributions	(328,567)	(883,684)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	2,489	629
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(12,915)	(17,974)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	642,337	(902,854)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	881,960	(698,683)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	723,718	1,763,079
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,605,678	1,064,396
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	93,524	104,508
Interest capitalized	9,269	7,965
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to real estate included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(24,857)	9,243
Dividends and distributions declared but not paid	113,079	112,796
Conversions of noncontrolling interests to stockholders’ equity	(446)	(8,689)
Issuance of restricted securities to employees	$ 32,630	$ 42,279