The number of joint venture sites.

No definition available.

Name:	els_NumberOfJointVentureSites
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, amount in excess of basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsamountinexcessofbasis
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, including those in excess of basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsincludingthoseinexcessofbasis
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(10))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022249&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13)(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net cash inflow or outflow in aggregate debt due to repayments and proceeds from additional borrowings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_CrosswindsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=els_OtherRegionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_ECHOFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_FL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_LoggerheadMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_AZ
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=els_VoyagerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=els_RecreationalVehicleResortMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=els_ServicingAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 joint_venture_site	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018 site	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites				2		5,941
Economic Interest (in percentage)					65.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		$ 57,491					$ 53,080
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		1,195	$ 1,150
Distributions, including those in excess of basis		500	1,100
Income from distribution made to us			200
Crosswinds
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Economic Interest (in percentage)					49.00%
Short term loan repaid	$ 13,800
Various \| Meadows
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites \| site						1,077
Economic Interest (in percentage)					50.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		425					307
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		418	548
Various \| ECHO JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites \| site						0
Economic Interest (in percentage)					50.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		15,786					15,624
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		161	25
Florida \| Lakeshore
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites \| site						720
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		2,484					2,530
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		45	77
Florida \| Loggerhead
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites \| site						2,343
Economic Interest (in percentage)					49.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		35,205					31,414
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		0	0
Arizona \| Voyager
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Sites \| site						1,801
Economic Interest (in percentage)					50.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		3,591					$ 3,205
Joint Venture Income/(Loss)		$ 571	$ 500
Recreational Vehicle Resort \| Voyager
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Economic Interest (in percentage)					50.00%
Servicing Assets \| Voyager
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Economic Interest (in percentage)					33.00%