Consolidated Statement of Partners' Capital Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 3,639,916
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Contributions		4,071
Acquisition of redeemable noncontrolling interest in property partnership	$ (1,586)	(1,586)
Net income allocable to general and limited partner units		592,297
Distributions		(601,594)
Other comprehensive Income (loss)		(4,810)
Unearned compensation		1,470
Conversion of redeemable partnership units		14,343
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value		40,415
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		3,684,522
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Contributions		3,144
Net income allocable to general and limited partner units		526,581
Distributions		(425,527)
Other comprehensive Income (loss)		(38,137)
Unearned compensation		2,760
Conversion of redeemable partnership units		6,461
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value		51,913
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		3,811,717
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Contributions		4,937
Net income allocable to general and limited partner units		471,156
Distributions		(480,816)
Other comprehensive Income (loss)		1,822
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	$ (2,035)	(272)
Unearned compensation		(243)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units		16,916
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value		(17,587)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 3,807,630