Equity Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Equity Transactions	Equity Transactions Preferred Securities Offerings In April 2016, the Company redeemed all of the issued and outstanding 2,950,000 shares of the Company's 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series H") for $25.00 per share for $73.8 million in cash. In connection with the Series H redemption, the Operating Partnership redeemed the Series H 7.125% Preferred Interest. The notice of redemption was given in March 2016, which resulted in the Company and the Operating Partnership each recording $2.5 million in excess of redemption value over carrying value charge to 2016 net income attributable to common stockholders and net income related to unitholders, respectively. Common Stock Offerings During 2017, the Company issued 345,444 shares of common stock, through its equity distribution program at an average price of $260.38 for proceeds of $89.1 million, net of fees and commissions. During 2016, the Company did not issue any shares of common stock through its equity distribution program. During the first quarter of 2018 through February 15, 2018, Essex has not issued any shares under its equity distribution program. Operating Partnership Units and Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Operating Partnership had outstanding 2,054,814 and 2,056,263 operating partnership units and 213,299 and 181,027 vested LTIP units, respectively. The Operating Partnership’s general partner, Essex, owned 96.7% of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership at both December 31, 2017 and 2016, and Essex is responsible for the management of the Operating Partnership’s business. As the general partner of the Operating Partnership, Essex effectively controls the ability to issue common stock of Essex upon a limited partner’s notice of redemption. Essex has generally acquired Operating Partnership limited partnership units ("OP Units") upon a limited partner’s notice of redemption in exchange for shares of its common stock. The redemption provisions of OP Units owned by limited partners that permit Essex to settle in either cash or common stock at the option of Essex were further evaluated in accordance with applicable accounting guidance to determine whether temporary or permanent equity classification on the balance sheet is appropriate. The Operating Partnership evaluated this guidance, including the requirement to settle in unregistered shares, and determined that, with few exceptions, these OP Units meet the requirements to qualify for presentation as permanent equity. LTIP units represent an interest in the Operating Partnership for services rendered or to be rendered by the LTIP unit holder in its capacity as a partner, or in anticipation of becoming a partner, in the Operating Partnership. Upon the occurrence of specified events, LTIP units may over time achieve full parity with common units of the Operating Partnership for all purposes. Upon achieving full parity, LTIP units will be exchanged for an equal number of the OP Units. The collective redemption value of OP Units and LTIP units owned by the limited partners, not including Essex, was approximately $547.5 million and $520.2 million based on the closing price of Essex's common stock as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Equity Transactions

Preferred Securities Offerings

In April 2016, the Company redeemed all of the issued and outstanding 2,950,000 shares of the Company's 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series H") for $25.00 per share for $73.8 million in cash. In connection with the Series H redemption, the Operating Partnership redeemed the Series H 7.125% Preferred Interest. The notice of redemption was given in March 2016, which resulted in the Company and the Operating Partnership each recording $2.5 million in excess of redemption value over carrying value charge to 2016 net income attributable to common stockholders and net income related to unitholders, respectively.

Common Stock Offerings

During 2017, the Company issued 345,444 shares of common stock, through its equity distribution program at an average price of $260.38 for proceeds of $89.1 million, net of fees and commissions. During 2016, the Company did not issue any shares of common stock through its equity distribution program. During the first quarter of 2018 through February 15, 2018, Essex has not issued any shares under its equity distribution program.

Operating Partnership Units and Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Operating Partnership had outstanding 2,054,814 and 2,056,263 operating partnership units and 213,299 and 181,027 vested LTIP units, respectively. The Operating Partnership’s general partner, Essex, owned 96.7% of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership at both December 31, 2017 and 2016, and Essex is responsible for the management of the Operating Partnership’s business. As the general partner of the Operating Partnership, Essex effectively controls the ability to issue common stock of Essex upon a limited partner’s notice of redemption. Essex has generally acquired Operating Partnership limited partnership units ("OP Units") upon a limited partner’s notice of redemption in exchange for shares of its common stock. The redemption provisions of OP Units owned by limited partners that permit Essex to settle in either cash or common stock at the option of Essex were further evaluated in accordance with applicable accounting guidance to determine whether temporary or permanent equity classification on the balance sheet is appropriate. The Operating Partnership evaluated this guidance, including the requirement to settle in unregistered shares, and determined that, with few exceptions, these OP Units meet the requirements to qualify for presentation as permanent equity.

LTIP units represent an interest in the Operating Partnership for services rendered or to be rendered by the LTIP unit holder in its capacity as a partner, or in anticipation of becoming a partner, in the Operating Partnership. Upon the occurrence of specified events, LTIP units may over time achieve full parity with common units of the Operating Partnership for all purposes. Upon achieving full parity, LTIP units will be exchanged for an equal number of the OP Units.

The collective redemption value of OP Units and LTIP units owned by the limited partners, not including Essex, was approximately $547.5 million and $520.2 million based on the closing price of Essex's common stock as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.