Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue
Base rent	$ 2,103,723	$ 2,049,368	$ 2,017,767
Recoveries from tenants	402,066	367,500	358,975
Parking and other	107,421	105,000	100,910
Total rental revenue	2,613,210	2,521,868	2,477,652
Hotel revenue	49,118	45,603	44,884
Development and management services	45,158	34,605	28,284
Direct reimbursements of payroll and related costs from management services contracts	9,590	0	0
Total revenue	2,717,076	2,602,076	2,550,820
Expenses
Rental	979,151	929,977	889,768
Hotel	33,863	32,059	31,466
General and administrative	121,722	113,715	105,229
Payroll and related costs from management services contracts	9,590	0	0
Transaction costs	1,604	668	2,387
Depreciation and amortization	645,649	617,547	694,403
Total expenses	1,791,579	1,693,966	1,723,253
Other income (expense)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,222	11,232	8,074
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	59,370
Gains on sales of real estate	182,356	7,663	80,606
Interest and other income	10,823	5,783	7,230
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	(1,865)	3,678	2,273
Impairment losses	(11,812)	0	(1,783)
Interest expense	(378,168)	(374,481)	(412,849)
Gains (losses) from early extinguishments of debt	(16,490)	496	(371)
Losses from interest rate contracts	0	0	(140)
Net income	712,563	562,481	569,977
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(62,909)	(47,832)	2,068
Noncontrolling interest - common units of the Operating Partnership	(66,807)	(52,210)	(59,260)
Net income attributable to the Company	582,847	462,439	512,785
Preferred dividends / distributions	(10,500)	(10,500)	(10,500)
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 572,347	$ 451,939	$ 502,285
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.71	$ 2.93	$ 3.27
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	154,427	154,190	153,715
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.70	$ 2.93	$ 3.26
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	154,682	154,390	153,977
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Base rent	$ 2,103,723	$ 2,049,368	$ 2,017,767
Recoveries from tenants	402,066	367,500	358,975
Parking and other	107,421	105,000	100,910
Total rental revenue	2,613,210	2,521,868	2,477,652
Hotel revenue	49,118	45,603	44,884
Development and management services	45,158	34,605	28,284
Direct reimbursements of payroll and related costs from management services contracts	9,590	0	0
Total revenue	2,717,076	2,602,076	2,550,820
Expenses
Rental	979,151	929,977	889,768
Hotel	33,863	32,059	31,466
General and administrative	121,722	113,715	105,229
Payroll and related costs from management services contracts	9,590	0	0
Transaction costs	1,604	668	2,387
Depreciation and amortization	637,891	609,407
Total expenses	1,783,821	1,685,826	1,711,626
Other income (expense)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,222	11,232	8,074
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	59,370
Gains on sales of real estate	190,716	8,240	82,775
Interest and other income	10,823	5,783	7,230
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	(1,865)	3,678	2,273
Impairment losses	(10,181)	0	(1,783)
Interest expense	(378,168)	(374,481)	(412,849)
Gains (losses) from early extinguishments of debt	(16,490)	496	(371)
Losses from interest rate contracts	0	0	(140)
Net income	730,312	571,198	583,773
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(62,909)	(47,832)	2,068
Net income attributable to the Company	667,403	523,366	585,841
Preferred dividends / distributions	(10,500)	(10,500)	(10,500)
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 656,903	$ 512,866	$ 575,341
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.82	$ 2.99	$ 3.36
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	171,912	171,661	171,361
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.81	$ 2.98	$ 3.35
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	172,167	171,861	171,623