Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,730,797
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	153,583,758
Excess stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Excess stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Excess stock, shares issued	0	0
Excess stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	155,393,455	154,869,198
Common stock, shares outstanding	155,314,555	154,790,298
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
Reddemable deferred stock units, units	63,475	60,676
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,564,762 and $6,497,031 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 22,342,209	$ 22,502,976
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	237,394	237,394
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,082,486) and$(1,058,495) at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	(5,209,487)	(5,266,798)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $268,415 and $280,033 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	660,733	644,950
Cash held in escrows	197,845	46,936
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $19,954 and $28,918 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	89,431	112,807
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $308,482 and $298,318 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	1,059,677	1,038,788
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $205,688 and $214,769 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	667,076	689,213
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $52,641 and $20,931 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	136,730	41,685
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,916,068 and $2,918,806 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	2,919,157	2,922,408
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,198 and $20,189 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	227,067	224,042
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $28,437 and $45,777 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	293,831	377,553
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $142,381 and $140,110 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 366,852	$ 387,994
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	92,000	92,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units)	80,000	80,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit	$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	80,000	80,000
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding (in units)	16,421,888	16,764,466
Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Units Outstanding (in units)	1,343,299	1,143,215
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,730,797	1,726,980
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	153,583,758	153,063,318
Reddemable deferred stock units, units	63,475	60,676
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,564,762 and $6,497,031 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 21,959,932	$ 22,107,755
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	237,394	237,394
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,082,486) and$(1,058,495) at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	(5,107,243)	(5,162,908)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $268,415 and $280,033 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	660,733	644,950
Cash held in escrows	197,845	46,936
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $19,954 and $28,918 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	89,431	112,807
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $308,482 and $298,318 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	1,059,677	1,038,788
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $205,688 and $214,769 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	667,076	689,213
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $52,641 and $20,931 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	136,730	41,685
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,916,068 and $2,918,806 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	2,919,157	2,922,408
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,198 and $20,189 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	227,067	224,042
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $28,437 and $45,777 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	293,831	377,553
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $142,381 and $140,110 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 366,852	$ 387,994
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units)	80,000	80,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit	$ 2,500	$ 2,500
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	80,000	80,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,564,762 and $6,497,031 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 6,564,762	$ 6,497,031
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,082,486) and$(1,058,495) at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	(1,082,486)	(1,058,495)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $268,415 and $280,033 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	268,415	280,033
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $19,954 and $28,918 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	19,954	28,918
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $308,482 and $298,318 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	308,482	298,318
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $205,688 and $214,769 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	205,688	214,769
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $52,641 and $20,931 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	52,641	20,931
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,916,068 and $2,918,806 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	2,916,068	2,918,806
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,198 and $20,189 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	20,198	20,189
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $28,437 and $45,777 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	28,437	45,777
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $142,381 and $140,110 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	142,381	140,110
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,564,762 and $6,497,031 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	6,564,762	6,497,031
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,082,486) and$(1,058,495) at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	(1,082,486)	(1,058,495)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $268,415 and $280,033 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	268,415	280,033
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $19,954 and $28,918 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	19,954	28,918
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $308,482 and $298,318 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	308,482	298,318
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $205,688 and $214,769 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	205,688	214,769
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $52,641 and $20,931 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	52,641	20,931
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,916,068 and $2,918,806 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	2,916,068	2,918,806
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,198 and $20,189 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	20,198	20,189
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $28,437 and $45,777 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	28,437	45,777
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $142,381 and $140,110 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	$ 142,381	$ 140,110