Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $7,084,588 and $6,760,078 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	$ 20,859,245	$ 20,147,263
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(825,390) and $(758,640) at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	(4,484,798)	(4,222,235)
Total real estate	16,374,447	15,925,028
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $285,089 and $253,999 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	493,055	356,914
Cash held in escrows (amounts related to VIEs of $6,179 and $4,955 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	83,779	63,174
Investments in securities	27,981	23,814
Tenant and other receivables (amounts related to VIEs of $19,891 and $23,525 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	79,750	92,548
Accrued rental income (amounts related to VIEs of $232,336 and $224,185 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	835,415	799,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $268,727 and $290,436 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	657,474	686,163
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $68,330 and $42,718 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	144,817	129,666
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	611,800	775,198
Total assets	19,308,518	18,851,643
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,941,550 and $2,018,483 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	2,982,067	2,063,087
Unsecured senior notes, net	7,252,567	7,245,953
Unsecured line of credit	0	0
Unsecured term loan	0	0
Mezzanine notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $0 and $307,093 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	0	307,093
Outside members’ notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $0 and $180,000 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	0	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $106,772 and $110,457 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	325,440	298,524
Dividends and distributions payable	130,434	130,308
Accrued interest payable (amounts related to VIEs of $6,800 and $162,226 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	99,100	243,933
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $146,517 and $175,146 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	419,215	450,821
Total liabilities	11,208,823	10,919,719
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Equity / Capital:
Excess stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
5.25% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred stock/unit, liquidation preference $2,500 per share/unit, 92,000 shares authorized, 80,000 shares/units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016	200,000	200,000
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 154,401,166 and 153,869,075 issued and 154,322,266 and 153,790,175 outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,543	1,538
Additional paid-in capital	6,370,932	6,333,424
Dividends in excess of earnings	(692,739)	(693,694)
Treasury common stock at cost, 78,900 shares at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016	(2,722)	(2,722)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(51,796)	(52,251)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.	5,825,218	5,786,295
Noncontrolling interests:
Common units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership	605,802	614,982
Property partnerships	1,668,675	1,530,647
Total equity / capital	8,099,695	7,931,924
Total liabilities and equity / capital	19,308,518	18,851,643
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
ASSETS
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $7,084,588 and $6,760,078 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	20,447,767	19,733,872
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(825,390) and $(758,640) at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	(4,394,077)	(4,136,364)
Total real estate	16,053,690	15,597,508
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $285,089 and $253,999 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	493,055	356,914
Cash held in escrows (amounts related to VIEs of $6,179 and $4,955 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	83,779	63,174
Investments in securities	27,981	23,814
Tenant and other receivables (amounts related to VIEs of $19,891 and $23,525 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	79,750	92,548
Accrued rental income (amounts related to VIEs of $232,336 and $224,185 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	835,415	799,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $268,727 and $290,436 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	657,474	686,163
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $68,330 and $42,718 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	144,817	129,666
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	611,800	775,198
Total assets	18,987,761	18,524,123
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,941,550 and $2,018,483 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	2,982,067	2,063,087
Unsecured senior notes, net	7,252,567	7,245,953
Unsecured line of credit	0	0
Unsecured term loan	0	0
Mezzanine notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $0 and $307,093 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	0	307,093
Outside members’ notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $0 and $180,000 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	0	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $106,772 and $110,457 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	325,440	298,524
Dividends and distributions payable	130,434	130,308
Accrued interest payable (amounts related to VIEs of $6,800 and $162,226 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	99,100	243,933
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $146,517 and $175,146 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	419,215	450,821
Total liabilities	11,208,823	10,919,719
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Noncontrolling interest:
Redeemable partnership units—16,812,329 and 17,079,511 common units and 816,982 and 904,588 long term incentive units outstanding at redemption value at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	2,166,290	2,262,040
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
5.25% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred stock/unit, liquidation preference $2,500 per share/unit, 92,000 shares authorized, 80,000 shares/units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016	193,623	193,623
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(60,346)	(60,853)
Noncontrolling interests:
Boston Properties Limited Partnership partners’ capital—1,719,516 and 1,717,743 general partner units and 152,602,750 and 152,072,432 limited partner units outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	3,750,350	3,618,094
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	1,668,675	1,530,647
Total equity / capital	5,612,648	5,342,364
Total liabilities and equity / capital	$ 18,987,761	$ 18,524,123