Cover - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 24, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Commission File Number	1-11718
Entity Registrant Name	EQUITY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	36-3857664
Entity Address, Street Name	Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800
Entity Address, City	Chicago,
Entity Address, State	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60606
City Area Code	312
Local Phone Number	279-1400
Title of each class	Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
Trading Symbol(s)	ELS
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		91,033,894
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000895417
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31