Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit - Schedule of Net Income Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 669,666	$ 741,522	$ 405,825
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	64,379,418	64,228,356	64,252,232
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 10.40	$ 11.55	$ 6.32
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 669,666	$ 741,522	$ 405,825
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year (in shares)	64,399,459	64,251,234	64,253,385
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 10.40	$ 11.54	$ 6.32
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 693,315	$ 767,936	$ 420,109
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	66,649,608	66,511,030	66,513,303
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 10.40	$ 11.55	$ 6.32
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 693,315	$ 767,936	$ 420,109
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year (in shares)	66,669,649	66,533,908	66,514,456
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 10.40	$ 11.54	$ 6.32
Stock Options
Basic:
Effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	20,041	22,878	1,153
Stock Options | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	20,041	22,878	1,153