Noncontrolling Interests Redeemable common units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	(2,035)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value			5,128
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	(272)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	(22,879)	(15,374)	(17,137)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	(1,763)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2,262,040	2,286,689	2,310,046
Contributions	31,743	31,395	39,030
Net income	52,210	59,260	66,951
Distributions	(54,494)	(49,087)	(69,447)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	(16,916)	(6,461)	(14,343)
Unearned compensation	1,650	(3,464)	(4,579)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	(1,763)
Other Comprehensive Loss,	206	(4,379)	(554)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	17,587	(51,913)	(40,415)
Ending Balance	$ 2,292,263	$ 2,262,040	$ 2,286,689