Noncontrolling Interests Common Units Distributions (Details) - Boston Properties Limited Partnership - $ / shares	Jan. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 30, 2019	Mar. 19, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Distributions Declared To OP And LTIP Units Per Unit				$ 0.98
Distributions Declared To MYLTIP Units Per Unit				$ 0.098
Distributions made to OP and LTIP units per unit (in dollars per share)	$ 0.98	$ 0.95	$ 0.95
Distributions Made To MYLTIP Units Per Unit	$ 0.098	$ 0.095	$ 0.095