Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2017 USD ($) yr	Mar. 31, 2020 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares	Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding		155,314,555	154,790,298
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)		1,730,797
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)		153,583,758
Options exercised		43,792
Shares of Common Stock issued in connection with redemption of an equal number of OP Units (in shares)		461,856
ATM Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At The Market Stock Offering Program Aggregate Value Of Common Stock | $	$ 600.0				$ 600.0
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Sale (in years) | yr	3
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000	80,000
Series B, Dividend Rate, Percentage		5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500	$ 2,500.00
Depositary shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		8,000,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 25.00		$ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Class of Stock [Line Items]
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
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000	80,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500	$ 2,500