Segment Information (Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Operating Income To Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of Net Operating Income to net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Net Operating Income	$ 189,389	$ 162,735	$ 494,953	$ 480,458
Development and management services income	5,479	8,024	22,072	25,733
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	14,736	9,217	72,240	42,129
Gain on consolidation of joint ventures	(1,810)	0	385,991	0
Interest and other income	3,879	4,001	6,646	8,029
Gains (Losses) from investments in securities	956	587	1,872	1,202
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	(30)	(5,494)	122	(4,453)
Gains on sale of real estate from discontinued operations	88,565	0	88,565	38,445
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations	0	0	20,736	0
General and administrative expense	24,841	21,617	94,673	72,208
Transaction costs	766	1,140	1,744	3,252
Depreciation and amortization expense	152,156	108,609	402,892	323,680
Interest expense	122,173	105,030	325,746	308,168
Impairment loss	0	0	4,401	0
Impairment loss from discontinued operations	0	0	2,852	0
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(3,279)	458	(924)	1,461
Noncontrolling interest-redeemable preferred units	3,729	874	8,796	2,440
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership	174,140	66,234	740,252	259,337
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Reconciliation of Net Operating Income to net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Net Operating Income	361,673	286,077	976,591	853,865
Development and management services income	5,479	8,024	22,072	25,733
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	14,736	9,217	72,240	42,129
Gain on consolidation of joint ventures	(1,810)	0	385,991	0
Interest and other income	3,879	4,001	6,646	8,029
Gains (Losses) from investments in securities	956	587	1,872	1,202
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	(30)	(5,494)	122	(4,453)
Income from discontinued operations	1,078	1,550	5,597	5,596
Gains on sale of real estate from discontinued operations	88,565	0	88,565	38,445
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations	0	0	20,736	0
General and administrative expense	24,841	21,617	94,673	72,208
Transaction costs	766	1,140	1,744	3,252
Depreciation and amortization expense	152,156	108,609	402,892	323,680
Interest expense	122,173	105,030	325,746	308,168
Impairment loss	0	0	4,401	0
Impairment loss from discontinued operations	0	0	2,852	0
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(3,279)	458	(924)	1,461
Noncontrolling interest-redeemable preferred units	3,729	874	8,796	2,440
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership	$ 174,140	$ 66,234	$ 740,252	$ 259,337