Real Estate Schedule of Real Estate Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		$ 5,069,206	$ 5,111,606
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,382	237,394
Right of use assets - operating leases		146,973	148,640
Land held for future development	[1]	446,392	254,828
Buildings and improvements		13,748,127	13,646,054
Tenant improvements		2,687,911	2,656,439
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		49,209	44,313
Construction in progress		769,846	789,736
Total		23,155,046	22,889,010
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,413,709)	(5,266,798)
Total real estate		17,741,337	17,622,212
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		4,971,990	5,011,153
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,382	237,394
Right of use assets - operating leases		146,973	148,640
Land held for future development	[1]	446,392	254,828
Buildings and improvements		13,468,534	13,351,286
Tenant improvements		2,687,911	2,656,439
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		49,209	44,313
Construction in progress		769,846	789,736
Total		22,778,237	22,493,789
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,309,930)	(5,162,908)
Total real estate		$ 17,468,307	$ 17,330,881

[1] Includes pre-development costs.